Crackdown on Afghan refugees intensifies, as 143,135 repatriated so far

The crackdown on illegal Afghan refugees is underway across the country after the deadline for them to return to Afghanistan ended on October 31.

So far, 143,135 Afghan refugees have been repatriated. A large number of illegal residents are present at the Torkhan border. The FC forces have contacted the relevant Afghan officials, according to which the Torkham border will remain open till 11pm today.

More than 70 illegal foreigners were arrested from across Lahore for not possessing residence permits, and shifted to the holding centres. 

In the phase-wise deportation of the illegal refugees, Faisalabad and Sargodha have been given preference, while Lahore will come after other cities.

The illegally residing Afghan refugees in Pakistan are continuing to return to Afghanistan through the Chaman border.

A massive rush of refugees could be seen at the Chaman bypass holding centre where they are being provided all necessary facilities.

According to Levies officials, about 40,000 illegal Afghan refugees have returned from Chaman so far.

In Jhelum, police arrested 98 illegal Afghan refugees, including women and children, while out of these, 78 were shifted to a holding camp established in a private college.

These illegal residents were arrested during operations in Pind Dadan Khan, Jalalpur Sharifwala, Dina and Jhelum. Those arrested included 30 men, 18 women and 30 children. 

Also Read: Countrywide crackdown on illegal Afghans as deadline to return expires

After fulfilling all legal formalities, there people will be sent to Peshawar for being transported to Afghanistan.

In a crackdown in Fateh Jang, 37 foreigners were arrested under The Foreigners Act 1946 and cases registered against them.

Moreover, in Quetta, about 500 illegal refugees were transferred to the holding center on Wednesday. The process of their registration was completed late at night, after which they were sent from the holding center to the border crossing point.

The Haji camp established at Quetta bypass was made functional where 500 illegal Afghans were shifted from different areas of the city.

In a holding camp in Karachi, the verification of the Afghan refugees is underway after which over 100 of them will be transported to Afghanistan in the first phase through the Chaman border in buses.

From Peshawar, so far, 7,380 Afghan refugees have returned through the Torkham border. The number of illegal foreign residents in different districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is over 50,000.

Meanwhile, the decision to repatriate illegal refugees to Afghanistan has been challenged in the Lahore High Court.

Citizen Khayal Noor and others have filed a petition before the court at which the LHC office issued an objection to it.

The office raised the objection that the notification to send the illegal Afghan refugees back was not attached.

The petition maintained that the move was against the Constitution.

Justice Ali Baqar Najafi will hear the petition along with objections.

 

Helpline set up

A helpline has been released for the scanning of illegal aliens. The government has appealed to the citizens to cooperate with the government in identifying illegal aliens.

The general public has been asked to report any illegal person in their vicinity on the helpline concerned.

People have been asked to contact the 1700 helpline for guidance and problems related to the illegal residents.

The staff posted in the control room are on duty 24 hours a day for full guidance, information sharing and troubleshooting.