Cases will be registered against ‘foreign intruders’ after Aug 31: Nisar

Around 2.6 million people have verified their CNICs to NADRA so far, claims interior minister

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has said strict legal action will be taken against foreigners illegally living the country after August 31.

“Cases will be registered against those illegally living the country and they will be sent to prison for 14 years,” Nisar said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad on Monday.

The interior minister announced the first phase of CNIC verification campaign had successfully been completed. “Around 2.6 million people have verified their CNICs to the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) during a period of one month,” he claimed.



Nisar revealed that 23,000 people had so far been proved to be foreigners living in the country. “We have covered about one fifth of the total population during the first phase of the CNIC verification campaign.”

“I assure you that with the help of Nadra, media and our people we will be able to throw out the intruders from the country,” he added.

The interior minister said he was trying his best to undo the wrongdoings of the previous governments by introducing reforms and strictly following the standard procedures while issuing identity documents to the people.

Nisar said a high-level meeting on the document verification issue will be called next week, which will be attended by Army Chief General Raheel Sharif as well as heads of intelligence services.

Rangers’ policing powers

On the issue of Rangers’ policing powers in Sindh, the interior minister said: “I hope there will be a sharp progress in awarding Rangers an extension in their policing powers.”



He said recently several police personnel were killed in Karachi but their culprits had not been traced until now. “The paramilitary force has to have legal cover as they curb activities of criminals in the city.”

The minister said security forces have put their lives on stake and their sacrifices should not be played upon for seeking political mileage. “We hope the extension of Rangers’ policing powers does not continue to be delayed.”

“So far 31 personnel of security forces have been killed in Karachi operation. The operation has not come at an easy price,” the interior minister added.

Nisar said he got the information from media that Rangers' powers had been extended.