The Bihari community has been in the country for over forty years. These were the people who migrated to East Pakistan after Partition and then were left with no option but to move to Pakistan after the 1971 war because they felt unwelcome in Bangladesh for taking West Pakistan’s side. One would think that those loyal to the state would be treated with a bare minimum of respect. Instead, there are many reports of Biharis in Karachi who are unable to get CNICs unless they can show repatriation certificates and ration cards from when they first moved to the country. In some cases they are being denied CNICs even if they do provide the documentation. Not having a CNIC is tantamount to not being a Pakistani. You cannot open a bank account, own or rent property or get a job without a CNIC. Biharis in Karachi are essentially being told that they are no longer welcome even though they are no less Pakistani than anyone else and have probably sacrificed more for the country than most. It is true that the community is still discriminated against in Bangladesh and only those who were minors in 1971 have been given citizenship but that does not excuse our own uncaring attitude.
Pakistan has a complicated history with migrants. Our proximity to and history with Afghanistan meant we took in more Afghan refugees after the Soviet invasion than anyone else. But we never made the effort to assimilate these refugees and, even now, have not given them the right to citizenship. The refugees have even been scapegoated for bringing drugs and guns to the country although involving ourselves in the Afghanistan war was a choice we made for ourselves and hence had a responsibility to the refugees. The Biharis were at least promised nationality, even though it was handed reluctantly and is now being all but nullified by withholding CNICs. It may not be a coincidence that this is happening at a time when there is talk of holding a census. The Bihari community in Orangi, Majeed Colony and Landhi tend to vote for the MQM. Counting them in the census may increase the number of seats in the national and provincial assemblies that will be reliably won by the party. Political considerations, though, should play no part in all but stripping these Pakistanis of their citizenship. http://www.thenews.com.pk/print/107333-The-Biharis
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