THE Jammu and Kashmir unit of BJP on Saturday welcomedthe Centre’s decision to deport Pakistani nationals in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack,saying“theyhavenoright to stay in the country even if they are married to Indian citizens”. J&K BJP’s chief spokesperson Sunil Sethi said such individuals may be potential “sleeper cells”, and there is a possibility that some of them have been plantedbyPakistani spy agencyInterServices Intelligence(ISI)aspart of a “nefarious” design. Sethi’s remarks came even as hispartycolleagueandadvocate Ankur Sharma legally aided Minal Khan, the Pakistani wife of CRPF trooper Munir Khan from Jammu, from getting deported at the last minute on Wednesday.

 

The Pakistani woman, who entered into wedlock with the trooper last May, came to Jammu on February28onashort-termvisa, which expired on March 22, before applying for a long-term visa (LTV). Official sources said the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Saturday dismissed Munir Ahmed from service for “concealing” his marriage with the Pakistani woman after finding his action “detrimental” to national security. “Whatever may be the circumstances or justifications, these overstaying Pakistanis, eveniftheyhavematrimonialties withIndiancitizens,havenoright to stay inIndia, nor do they have a right to claim LTV merely on this emotional ground,” Sethi, also a lawyerbyprofession, said