Amid uncertainty surrounding the election schedule, interim Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Friday reiterated that announcing the poll date was beyond the constitutional mandate of the caretaker set-up.<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said: \u201cAnnouncing the election date is not the prerogative of a caretaker set-up. It will be illegal if we announce a date for the polls. We will not support any unconstitutional measure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Responding to a question, the premier warned of a consistent crackdown against illegal trade and said an effective management plan is being implemented to control cross-border smuggling.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have zero tolerance for those involved in the \u2018smuggling industry\u2019 and the law will take its course,\u201d he added. Kakar further said detailed deliberations were held on the Afghan transit trade and the reopening of the Torkham border,\u00a0APP\u00a0<\/i>reported.<\/p>\n
The commerce ministry has taken a lead along with border management authorities including customs in revising the policy to allow or restrict the trade items, he said.<\/p>\n
\u2018Will push aliens back to their country\u2019<\/p>\n
Asked about the involvement of Afghan refugees involved in cross-border smuggling, PM Kakar said an effective policy in this regard had been agreed upon.<\/p>\n
He categorised the Afghans living in Pakistan into three classes \u2014 those registered with the government, \u201caliens\u201d with no justification to reside, and those with identity theft.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will push the aliens [illegal Afghan immigrants] back to their country and no one without the visa regime will be allowed to live here,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The interim PM regretted that the previous lenient approach in this regard resulted in various social evils. He also pointed out the risk of smuggling leading to the strengthening of terrorist outfits and non-state actors.<\/p>\n