As authorities amp up efforts to identify and process undocumented Afghan migrants and refugees living in countries, police sources said estimates suggest there were 22,000 Afghan citizens in the federal capital.
Sources within the department said that plans were already in place to start the crackdown on illegal Afghans ahead of the November 1 deadline issued by the Pakistan government for all undocumented foreigners to either renew their visas and permits or leave the country.
Sources added that officials of Islamabad police met those from the Afghan embassy in Islamabad to get them to facilitate the return of Afghan citizens living illegally in Islamabad to their home country. It was decided that Afghan citizens lacking the necessary residence documents in Pakistan would be repatriated to their home country, they added.
Police sources added that those Afghans who voluntarily wish to return to their homeland before the deadline would be facilitated.
They added that Islamabad police and the federal government had scrutinized the documents of 11,220 Afghan citizens so far. It identified 503 illegal Afghans after which cases were filed against them under the Foreigners Act 1946.
Subsequently, a significant number of Afghan citizens have initiated their registration under the Act, with registration centres witnessing an increased influx of Afghan citizens.
It was also pointed out that if an Afghan man married in Pakistan, the country's laws dictate that he would not be granted Pakistani citizenship.
ICT app
The Islamabad police has introduced a mobile application (app) ICT 15 through which citizens can report incidents and complaints. The app was launched on Thursday.
Islamabad police said it would enable affected individuals to upload footage or photos of incidents in any area within the Islamabad district on which the police would then act.
It would also loop relevant high-ranking officers to ensure swift action by concerned police officials. The app is designed to accommodate reports of various types of crimes and can be easily downloaded onto mobile devices, said the capital police.
The app would also help police monitor information about illegal residents, including their properties and other relevant details.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2023.
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