Punjab

Illegal aliens identified in Pindi

Special teams continue to arrest undocumented Afghans

Saleh Mughal November 16, 2023

Afghan refugees brought in trucks to cross the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Torkham. Photo: AFP

RAWALPINDI:

As the eviction process for illegal immigrants continues across the country, security institutions and law enforcement agencies, including police, have revealed that more than 750 undocumented Afghans are still illegally present in various districts of the Rawalpindi Division.

Joint intelligence teams, comprising personnel from the police, special branch, and intelligence agencies, have been formed at the divisional level to locate and apprehend these illegal Afghan immigrants. Special teams, led by the divisional SPs, have begun the formal process of tracing and arresting the listed aliens.

According to sources, Rawalpindi SP Operations has written a letter to the divisional SPs, including the Rawal, Pothohar, Saddar, and Kohisar SPs, titled “Untraceable Illegal Afghan Non-Residents” in which they have been told that a list comprising the names of 758 Afghan citizens is being sent to them.

Read Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan in 'very bad condition,' says UN official

“Special teams have been formed, which shall ensure the search and arrest of these individuals so that they may be repatriated to their home country,” it read.

The sources said the teams, led by DSPs, have been assigned the responsibility and are equipped with representatives from the special branch, intelligence agencies, police station, and two officials from the security division for the task.

Accordingly, the team of the Potohar division comprises DSP VVIP Security III Saeed Gilani in the lead, while the joint team of Saddar and Kohisar divisions will be led by DSP VVIP Security II Abid Khan. District Security Officer Ismat Kamal is mandated to coordinate with the Special Branch and other intelligence agencies, providing human intelligence and modern technology for the operation.

The teams have reportedly started the work to trace the illegal Afghans using human intelligence and modern technology.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2023.