Turkey's parliament to repatriate Pakistani migrants

Ankara :Turkey's parliament has approved an agreement enabling Ankara to repatriate Pakistani migrants, as people continue to be sent to Turkey from Greece as part of a European Union (EU) deal to stem mass migration to Europe.

Pakistani migrants are among those that have already been sent back to Turkey under the deal,reports Dawn.

A ferry carrying 45 Pakistani migrants returned to Turkey from the Greek island of Lesbos on the second round of arrivals under the EU deal with Ankara to stem mass migration to Europe across the Aegean Sea.

Turkish Interior Ministry employees check documents of a Pakistani migrant wrapped with a blanket before getting on a ferry for Turkey in the port of Mytilini of the Greek island of Lesbos, Friday, April 8.

The accord, which aims to help end a chaotic influx into the EU of migrants and refugees, most fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, after the arrival of over a million last year.

Nearly 250 people have been sent back from the Greek islands under the new accord.

Activists said that the EU-Turkey deal runs roughshod over human rights, and they stood at the gates of the port blowing whistles and banging on metal barriers in protest.

Pakistan was one of the top five countries of origin among the one million migrants who arrived in Europe last year, although most are considered economic migrants rather than refugees from conflict.