Police in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh have intensified operations against undocumented Afghan nationals, detaining scores of individuals during raids in multiple districts, officials said.
In Peshawar, police conducted operations in Afghan Colony, Board Bazaar and Nasir Bagh areas, arresting more than 50 undocumented Afghan nationals during the last 24 hours.
Officials said action would also be taken against landlords renting out properties to illegal residents, warning that FIRs would be registered against violators.
Special teams have been formed to accelerate the crackdown across the province under the supervision of the SSP Operations. Authorities have also collected data to scrutinise cases of Afghan nationals allegedly obtaining Pakistani identity cards for further verification.
In Swat, district police launched a separate crackdown against illegal residents, taking 79 Afghan nationals into custody from different areas. According to police, the detainees were residing in the district without valid legal documents. Cases have been registered against them under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, and further legal proceedings are under way.
Officials stated that the detained individuals and their families would be deported after completion of legal formalities. They added that operations against undocumented residents would continue across the district.
Meanwhile, in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area, police carried out a search operation against illegally residing Afghan nationals. More than 20 individuals were taken into custody during the action. SSP East Zubair Nazir Shaikh said heavy police contingents participated in the operation.
Authorities confirmed that verification of legal documents and residential status of the detained persons was in progress, adding that further action would follow in accordance with the law.
