- UN asks govt to ensure mechanism for registration of illegal immigrants instead of repatriation
- Officials say more than 165,000 Afghans leave Pakistan in a month
- Caretaker Interior Minister says crackdown to be launched on holders of fake CNICs
TORKHAM/ISLAMABAD: Amide crackdown underway to address the issue of illegal foreign nationals, the officials said that more than 165,000 undocumented Afghans have left Pakistan since Islamabad issued a deadline a month ago to leave the country or face deportation while the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has asked Pakistan to get registered the illegal immigrants instead of repatriation.
On the other hand, the government has established Special Control Rooms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan to oversee the deportation process of undocumented Afghan individuals back to their home country.
According to the KP Home Department, over 129,000 have left the province, while a total of 38,100 have crossed through Chaman in Balochistan, border officials informed.
The majority rushed to the border in the past several days as the November 1 deadline approached and police began to open up dozens of holding centres to detain arrested Afghans.
Officials at the country’s busiest border point at Torkham in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province worked into the early hours of Thursday morning to clear a queue of 28,000 people that stretched for seven kilometres.
“Illegal Afghans arrived at Torkham in heavy numbers because of the deadline… People can still return voluntarily but today only 1,000 are present at the border,” Abdul Nasir Khan, deputy commissioner of the border district said.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti last Thursday said that the expulsion plan for illegal foreign immigrants has been finalized.
Holding centres have been setup in all provinces to keep illegal foreign nationals.
Bugti said that the illegal foreign immigrants will not be kept in jails, but temporary camps have been established as holding centres for them.
UNHC expresses concerns over expulsion of illegal immigrants
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has asked Pakistan to ensure a comprehensive mechanism for the registration of illegal immigrants instead of departing them.
Pakistan has set Oct 31, a deadline for people living in Pakistan illegally and various holding camps were setup by the provincial governments to keep the illegal settlers for their eventual return to their homeland.
A crackdown is underway against people living illegally in Pakistan.
Qaiser Khan Afridi, spokesperson of the UN agency said that deporting the immigrants could have serious effects which would put their lives in danger.
European Union and eight countries have also issued a joint statement on the Afghanistan condition stating a registration mechanism should be introduced for the undocumented refugees and protection of such persons should be ensured.
Similarly, the US State Department has also urged the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan to allow entry of the refugees seeking safety and Pakistan and other countries should fulfill their responsibilities for immigrants.
Control rooms to monitor deportation
On the other hand, the government has established Special Control Rooms in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan to oversee the deportation process of undocumented Afghan individuals back to their home country.
An extensive crackdown is currently underway to address the issue of illegal foreign nationals residing in KP and Balochistan, besides special transit camps have been set up in Peshawar, Landi Kotal, and Quetta to facilitate the return of these unauthorized residents to their respective countries, in compliance with the nation’s legal procedures.
These transit camps, located in the Khyber and Chaman districts, not only offer registration services but also provide essential amenities such as medical care and food to those in transit.
In addition, Special Control Rooms have been established in Peshawar and Quetta, staffed by personnel from various law enforcement agencies, including the police, customs, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA).
These control rooms will maintain records and statistics related to these undocumented foreign individuals.
As of the 22nd of the previous month, the government has gathered data on approximately 52,000 foreign nationals who were residing illegally in Pakistan.
‘Capital Police initiate deportation drive’
In a decisive move, Islamabad police authorities have commenced the deportation process of illegal residents and moved at least 64 Afghan nationals last day to the Torkham border crossing for deportation.
Working in conjunction, the Islamabad Police, district administration, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and prison authorities have collaborated to hand over these individuals for necessary actions.
Under the vigilant supervision of Islamabad Police, individuals designated for deportation have been escorted back to their respective home countries. This initiative comes as a result of the expiration of the allotted time for illegal resident individuals.
Islamabad police officials said a team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the capital police on other day transported the prisoners in two buses from Adiala jail to the border under strict security measures. The remaining prisoners will be shifted to the border in different phases.
Shalimar police has also arrested over two dozen Afghan refugees and the process of their identity verification was underway. Simultaneously, awareness messages are being disseminated to raise awareness among illegal foreign residents. Authorities have emphasized the consequences of providing shelter or employment to such individuals, reiterating that legal action will be taken against any parties involved in such activities.
Crackdown to be launched against fake CNICs holders: Bugti
Caretaker Interior Sarfraz Ahmad Bugti has said that the government would launch a crackdown against the holders of fake Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs).
Interacting with a private television channel on Thursday, he said the law enforcement agencies were taking action against non-registered and illegal foreigners living in Pakistan since long.
Sarfraz Bugti further stated that we will welcome foreigners in Pakistan with valid documents.
Responding to a question about incidents of terrorism in Pakistan, he said many illegal Afghan people had been found involved in the terrorist acts and street crimes.
Commenting about the time frame of shifting non-registered people to their home country, Sarfraz Bugti said that nearly three to four months would be needed to send them back to Afghanistan.
