A cross-section of federal and provincial departments and law enforcement agencies have prepared a comprehensive plan for the Rawalpindi district in light of the government’s decision to expel undocumented refugees, particularly Afghans, by November 1.
According to sources, law enforcement agencies have already identified 20 areas in Rawalpindi and Attock that have settlements of undocumented Afghan refugees.
A door-to-door operation will be conducted at 200 other locations to identify undocumented refugees. The source said it would be a ‘census-like’ exercise.
The identified areas include Pirwadhai, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed, Katarian, Sadiqabad, Bangash Colony, Fauji Colony, Hazara Colony, Taxila, Wah Cantt, Margalla, Fateh Jang, Shakrial, areas adjacent to Khanna bridge and other areas. According to law enforcement sources, a large number of undocumented Afghans live in these areas, often in rented houses and quarters, and hostels, inns and lodges.
The district police, special branch, the Federal Investigation Agency as well as intelligence agencies will be part of this plan, with the district administration, revenue department, the National Database Registration Authority (Nadra) working with them.
The source added that liaison committees would be created at the tehsil level of each district, which were likely to be notified by October 15 after which the crackdown would begin in earnest ‘unless ordered otherwise’.
As part of the plan, authorities have sought the data of Afghan refugees Nadra, FIA and other institutions. The plan envisions inspecting proof of registration (PoR) cards, which the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said was last extended for two years in 2021.
Refugees have till October 31 to extend their Pakistani visas or PoR cards or face deportation.
The source added that the crackdown would include a review of the credentials of Afghans with Pakistani identity cards as well. Their financial transactions and property deals would also be reviewed, they added. Those found harbouring undocumented immigrants would also face action.
Pakistan has ordered all undocumented immigrants, mainly nearly 1.73 million Afghan nationals, to voluntarily leave the country or face deportation. Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti gave a November 1 deadline while claiming that 14 of 24 suicide bombings in the country this year were carried out by Afghan nationals. He said an estimated 1.73 million Afghan nationals in Pakistan have no legal documents to stay, adding that a total of 4.4 million Afghan refugees live in Pakistan.
Kabul has called the decision unacceptable as relations between the two countries continue to deteriorate since border clashes last month. On Wednesday, a child was among two people killed on the Pakistan side which Islamabad said was due to ‘unprovoked’ firing by an Afghan border guard.
On Sunday, law enforcement agencies said they had arrested 800 Afghan nationals from Islamabad as part of the crackdown. Approximately half of those apprehended were subsequently released after verifying their legal residency status in Pakistan.
Of the remaining, 375 Afghan nationals who lacked proper legal documentation, they were detained and were slated for deportation.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 5th, 2023.
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