Apathy slows aliens’ eviction
Crowds of women and children stood out in the wide streets of Herat, away from tall buildings, in the moments after the first quake. PHOTO: AFP
The eviction process of illegal immigrants, including undocumented Afghan nationals, from Rawalpindi has started slowing down as the district administration of the four districts of the Rawalpindi Division has sent only one convoy to Afghanistan since November 1.
According to sources, the disinterest of district officers in the eviction process has hindered the return of illegal Afghan residents, leaving the established holding centres deserted.
A nationwide crackdown was initiated, forming a Joint Implementation Committee headed by Rawalpindi Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha, aimed at immediately evicting over 12,000 illegal immigrants from Rawalpindi.
The committee which comprised officers from police, special branch, FIA, Nadra, and other allied departments, implemented various measures to expedite the return process from November 1. In this regard, temporary holding centres were set up in the four districts, and initially, the district administration officers focused on the eviction process.
The police were also granted special powers to arrest illegal immigrants and transfer them to temporary holding centres. However, sources reveal that from November 1 to November 14, only one convoy left Rawalpindi for Afghanistan via Torkham.
Read more New border crossings opened to expedite repatriation of Afghans
Despite arrangements in the holding centres, no Afghan citizens are being arrested and brought in, and the scrutiny process of over 12,000 illegal immigrants has come to a complete halt. Only 6,000 Afghans have had their papers and residence in Pakistan checked so far.
The continuous delay has left the staff in the holding centres concerned, as the eviction process has become inactive due to the alleged lack of interest on the part of the district administration.
The police’s rounding up of illegal immigrants, including undocumented Afghans, has also completely stopped. From Attock 240, Jhelum 117, Chakwal 75, and only 14 illegal immigrants have been evicted. Additionally, 1,000 illegal aliens voluntarily returned from Rawalpindi before November 1.
Sources said officers of the district administration made initial visits to the holding centres but their interest waned after a few days. Attempts to contact the Rawalpindi commissioner to understand the reasons for the delay remained unsuccessful as he did not respond to calls.
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‘No restriction on legal residents’
Caretaker Minister for Interior Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti Monday said there is no restriction for the world community including Afghans to do business in Pakistan with valid documents.
“Pakistani citizens could not enter Afghanistan for business purposes without a visa and valid documents,” he said while talking to a private television channel. Every country has the rules and regulations for entry, he said adding that Pakistan would also welcome any citizenship holder to start trade and business with proper documentation.
More than two hundred thousand Afghan people had left Pakistan after the drive launched by Law Enforcement Agencies, he said. Pakistan has been facing terrorism issues for the last many years, he said, adding that we have sacrificed thousands of lives in fighting the war on terror.
“Some Afghan people who were living illegally in Pakistan had been found involved in criminal activities,” he said.
In reply to a question about RAW’s involvement in derailing peace, he said RAW had been funding terrorist groups to sabotage the peaceful environment in Pakistan. “Strict measures have been taken to control insurgency from borders,” he said.
To a question about action against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, he said those who were found guilty of a crime against the national institutions would be treated as per law. “May 9 vandalism was a tragic incident in Pakistan,” he said. “No one would be allowed to work against the security institutions of this country,” he warned.
With additional input from APP
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2023.