The caretaker government has decided to evict 1.1 million foreigners residing illegally in the country, said the state-run wire Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) on Monday.
The decision, rooted in concerns over their involvement in funding and facilitating terrorists and engaging in various illicit activities, has sparked immediate attention both nationally and internationally.
According to the APP, the eviction process will unfold in three phases. In the initial phase, illegal residents and those failing to renew their visas will be deported.
Subsequently, individuals holding Afghan citizenship will be expelled in the second phase, and in the third phase, those with proof of residence cards will also face deportation.
The Interior Ministry, in collaboration with stakeholders and the Afghan government, has devised this comprehensive plan, aiming to enhance national security by removing potential threats.
A source familiar with the matter stated that these illegal residents pose a serious threat to Pakistan’s security, justifying the stringent measures.
The government’s decision comes amid a noticeable surge in the detention of Afghan refugees during September.
Authorities have emphasized that the crackdown specifically targets individuals without legal status, citing rising crime rates and inadequate regulation of immigration, which has strained resources.
The crackdown has resulted in the arrest of at least 700 Afghans in Karachi alone, a tenfold increase compared to August, with additional arrests reported in various cities, according to official police figures.
Afghan residents have raised concerns about the indiscriminate nature of these arrests, alleging police extortion and disregard for legal documentation. Rising anti-Afghan sentiments have also been reported, fueled by economic hardships in Pakistani households and escalating tensions between Islamabad and Kabul’s new Taliban-led government.
The Interior Ministry has issued directives to compile records of Afghans residing without permits and prepare transportation plans for their return to the Afghan border. While approximately 1.3 million Afghans are registered refugees, and 880,000 possess legal status to stay in Pakistan according to the latest United Nations figures, the government’s crackdown aims to address the issue of illegal immigration and enhance national security.
