Pindi forms Afghan detention task force

In the wake of the police's discouraging performance in apprehending undocumented Afghan nationals in Rawalpindi, the city's police have now established a dedicated "task force" mandated to detain such individuals on a daily basis and transfer them to designated holding centres.

Sources said that although repeated directives had been issued to various police stations to detain Afghans and other foreign nationals residing illegally in Rawalpindi and to move them to holding centres for subsequent deportation, little meaningful progress had been achieved.

It has since emerged that the Rawalpindi police have formed a specialised task force expressly charged with identifying undocumented Afghan and other foreign nationals and transporting them to holding centres. To this end, thirteen specialised teams have been constituted.

Each team is to include an upper subordinate officer, four constables, a detective foot constable, and one representative each from the Counter-Terrorism Department, the Security Branch, and the Special Branch.

The Sub-Inspectors and Assistant Sub-Inspectors appointed as team leaders are as follows: SI Muhammad Saifullah for Pir Wadhai, SI Waqar Haider for RattaAmral, SI Shafiq-ul-Hasnain for Taxila, SI Gulzar Hussain for Wah Cantonment, SI Umar Farooq for Saddar Wah Cantonment, ASIAzhar for Mandra, ASI Shahid Jamil for Jatli, ASI Shahid Mahmood for Rawat, while Sub-Inspector Muhammad Tasleem for Saddar Bairuni.

In addition, the following officers will head teams in their respective jurisdictions: Sub-Inspector Muhammad Faizan for Dhamial, ASI Yasir Iqbal for Chountra, ASI Naeem Raj Wali for Chakri, and ASI Muhammad Rizwan for Naseerabad.

A senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that although a crackdown on undocumented Afghan nationals is ongoing, the police's overall performance has been deemed unsatisfactory. This shortcoming, he said, ultimately necessitated the creation of the dedicated task force.

The officer further noted that strict instructions have been issued to the relevant station clerks to ensure that personnel assigned to the task force are not deployed on any duties other than the apprehension of Afghan nationals and other foreigners residing illegally.

A pro forma has also been circulated to the team leaders, requiring them to submit their daily report to the Chief Security Officer by 9pm.