On Wednesday, Pakistani authorities initiated a campaign to address the issue of illegal immigrants, encompassing approximately 1.7 million Afghan nationals, following the expiration of a government-mandated deadline for their departure from the country.
In the prior month, the caretaker government had issued an ultimatum, directing all undocumented immigrants to vacate Pakistan by October 31 or face the risk of imprisonment and deportation. The authorities announced that action would be taken against those undocumented foreigners who had not left the country, commencing on November 1.
Subsequently, as the day progressed, reports began to emerge concerning police apprehending undocumented foreigners in various regions across Pakistan, including Karachi, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and other cities, in preparation for their deportation.
In Karachi, authorities detained four illegal Afghan immigrants from the Saddar area and relocated them to a holding center, from where they will undergo the necessary legal procedures before being repatriated to Afghanistan, as reported by Geo News.
Additionally, a substantial police presence was dispatched to Karachi's Sohrab Goth area, where authorities utilized loudspeakers to advise undocumented immigrants to return to their home countries by the midnight deadline.
Similarly, numerous illegal immigrants from different regions were detained in Balochistan's Chaman area, as per officials from the Levies Forces, a paramilitary gendarmerie in the province. Officials mentioned that a large number of Afghan refugees converged on Chaman from various parts of the country following the issuance of the deadline to leave Pakistan. The Levies police personnel registered undocumented Afghan migrant families before transferring them to holding centers. So far, up to 5,000 illegal Afghan refugees have been relocated to these centers.
In Peshawar, SSP Operations Kashif Aftab Abbasi spoke to Geo News, highlighting the presence of police teams and district administration officials in various areas to advise undocumented foreigners to return to their home countries.
According to sources from the Afghan Commission, approximately 104,000 undocumented Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan have already returned to Afghanistan. These refugees comprise 28,000 men, 19,000 women, and 56,000 children.
Punjab IG Usman Anwar indicated that the plan for repatriating illegal residents has been finalized, with the provincial police tasked with implementing the directives of the federal government. The detained undocumented foreigners will be temporarily accommodated at holding centers, where they will undergo the necessary legal processes. District administration will be responsible for transportation, food, and other arrangements.
In Rawalpindi's Pirwadhai area, two illegal Afghan migrants were arrested and transferred to a holding center. Biometric verification of the detained Afghan citizens will be conducted by the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) at the holding center.
To facilitate the legal procedures before deporting undocumented Afghans, holding centers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and other provinces have been equipped with the necessary facilities.
Moreover, mobile units from NADRA have been dispatched to these holding centers, where magistrates and other officials have established offices to handle legal formalities.
The center on Nasir Bagh Road in Peshawar has been furnished with medical and other facilities, along with ample security measures.
It was revealed that foreigners from Islamabad and Punjab would be transported to the holding point near the Afghan border in Landikotal. Meanwhile, individuals from Peshawar and other areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will be shifted to the holding camp on Nasir Bagh Road, from where they will be transported to the Torkham border.
A control room has been established at the Home Department to oversee the process. Senior officers representing various departments, including the police, district administration, intelligence agencies, NADRA, Passport and Immigration, and the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, will monitor the operation.
Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jillani clarified that only undocumented Afghan refugees living in Pakistan were being repatriated and emphasized that there are numerous categories of Afghan refugees. The only refugees being asked to leave Pakistan are those who lack legal documentation. Additionally, Jillani stated that authorities will display leniency toward Afghan refugees who may encounter difficulties upon their return to Afghanistan, noting that the interim Afghan government has formed a commission for refugee rehabilitation. Pakistan and other countries are poised to provide support to the interim Afghan government in the rehabilitation of returning refugees.
Official estimates indicate that over 4 million Afghans reside in Pakistan, including approximately 1.7 million who are deemed illegal and undocumented. These undocumented individuals are believed to be associated with militancy and various criminal activities.
The decision to expel illegal foreigners was prompted by a surge in terrorism incidents this year, including 14 suicide bombings, with Afghan nationals implicated in several of these attacks. Nonetheless, this move has garnered criticism from various local and international groups, as well as the Taliban-led Afghan government.
