Government to Discuss Citizenship Problems

Trivandrum, India, Feb. 23 2003 (INS News) -- Kerala’s Government is to meet to find solutions for the problems faced by Pakistani citizens in Kerala State to gain citizenship; the Chief Minister has claimed the Government has a relaxed view of the problems.

Chief Minister A K Antony, told the state assembly today that Deputy Prime Minister, L K Advani has offered to adopt a humanitarian approach towards the issue of overstaying of Pakistani citizens of Kerala origin in the state as a "special case".

There were 269 Pakistani citizens of Kerala origin overstaying in the state, 61 had petitioned the High Court for citizenship, 41 applied for citizenship, 106 had sought visa extension and 61 had extended their stay due to various reasons, he said. Another 126 were at large.

The Chief Minister told the Kerala State Assembly that many of them were past 70 and incapable of leading an independent life if they are deported.

-- Sam Asharaf - South Asia Correspondent in Trivandrum, India
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