Authorities in Rawalpindi have intensified efforts to arrest and deport undocumented Afghan nationals, following new orders issued by the city’s police chief to divisions in Rawal, Potohar, and Saddar.
According to Dawn newspaper, the directive instructs police to detain Afghan migrants residing or working in the area without valid legal documents and transfer them to a holding centre at the Government Associate College.
The police chief stated that Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders, individuals with expired visas, those lacking legal documentation, and holders of temporary UN cards are all subject to arrest under the new enforcement measures. He expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of station heads in identifying and detaining undocumented migrants and urged officials to use all available resources to implement the directive.
Police officers have also been instructed to submit daily reports directly to the police chief’s office.
Dawn further reported that police have launched operations across various neighbourhoods in Rawalpindi, checking the identities of residents, particularly those living in rented properties.
Earlier, Afghan migrants in Islamabad alleged that police had entered homes without warning, detained families, and taken them into custody.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Pakistan deported 286,631 Afghan nationals between 1 April and 15 July.
