Unregistered Afghan nationals: 700 detained in June

Law-enforcement agencies intensify crackdown as border tension escalates

PESHAWAR: With tension escalating at the Western border with Afghanistan, law-enforcement agencies intensified their crackdown against illegal refugees from the neighbouring country.

Officials privy to the development told The Express Tribune at least 700 people were taken into custody by the police in the first 20 days of June.

According to the police, these people were arrested under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act and deported to their motherland via Torkham. However, the number of Afghan nationals detained in Central Prison Peshawar and awaiting deportation is also said to be in the hundreds.

As per the officials, the Peshawar police and armed forces intensified their search and strike operation against unregistered migrants, suspect militants, criminals and other antisocial elements. All those arrested lacked Proof Of Registration cards, visas and other necessary documents to validate their stay in Pakistan.

“So far, 700 Afghan nationals have been deported to their motherland in the first 20 days of June,” an officer of the police special branch said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 23^rd, 2016.