Stranded Pakistanis
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Biharis also refers to the natives or citizens of Bihar state of independent India (including non-Mulsims).
| The Pakistani Biharis |
|---|
| Total population |
|
600,000 - ? |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Pakistan,Bangladesh,United Kingdom,United States,Canada |
| Languages |
| Urdu |
| Religions |
| Islam( Sunni and Shia ) |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Other Indo-Aryan peoples Punjabis, Memons, Gujaratis, Pashtuns, Sindhis |
In pre-independence India, the Biharis were an Urdu-speaking Muslim minority in the Hindu region of Bihar. In 1947, at the time of partition, the Biharis moved to what was then East Pakistan. When civil war broke out between East and West Pakistan, the Biharis, who consider themselves Pakistani, sided with West Pakistan. In 1971, however, East Pakistan became the independent state of Bangladesh. The Biharis were left behind as the Pakistani army and civilians evacuated and found themselves unwelcome in both countries. Pakistan feared a mass influx of Biharis could destabilize a fragile and culturally mixed population, and Bangladesh scorned the Biharis for having supported the enemy. With neither country offering citizenship, the Biharis (Now called stranded Pakistanis) have remained stateless for 36 years.The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is not addressing the plight of the Biharis. An estimated 600,000 Biharis live in 66 camps in 13 regions across Bangladesh.
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[edit] See Also
[edit] References
- Citizens of Nowhere by Refugee International 2006 Report.
- Minorities at Risk-University of Maryland,USA
- Refugees International
- Stateless people In Bangladesh
- Stranded Pakistanis.org
- South Asian forum for Human Rights-The Bihari Refugees
[edit] Links
- Mixed feelings over Bihari ruling---2003---BBC
- PRC Wants Urgent Steps for Biharis’ Repatriation-2005---Arab News
- Govt opposes repatriation of Biharis-2004----Khaleej Times
- MQM demands issuance of CNICs to Biharis-2004---Dawn
- Vote for 'stranded Pakistanis'----BBC
- India helps stranded Pakistanis return---BBC
- Musharraf said while he had every sympathy for the plight of thousands of people in Bangladesh known as 'stranded Pakistanis', he could not allow them to emigrate to Pakistan----BBC
