RAWALPINDI: As the Nov 1 deadline for the expulsion of undocumented migrants approaches, the local administration and the law enforcement agencies have chalked up a plan to expel at least 24,000 foreign nationals residing in Rawalpindi Division’s six districts.

According to the data collected so far, the number of “illegal residents” across the division is around 24,018. Out of this, 10,000 people are living in Attock district; 1,200 in Chakwal district; 818 in Jhelum district and 12,000 in Rawalpindi district. Authorities claimed all these foreign nationals did not have proof of identity.

Talking to Dawn, Commissioner Liaquat Ali Chattha said arrangements had been completed to evict “illegal foreigners” and in this regard, a mass transit centre had been established in Attock where immigrants would be kept before being deported to Afghanistan via Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“The newly-constructed university building of Pir Mehr Ali Shah-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi (PMAS-AAUR) in Attock will be used as the transit centre. We will also provide temporary stay to ‘illegal Afghans’ from other parts of Punjab,” he said.

Police detain 27 Afghan nationals

“In every district of the province, the authorities have established transit centres, but Attock will have a mass transit centre due to its proximity to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he added.

The commissioner said they would keep the illegal immigrants there and conduct bio-metric along with other identification procedures, adding that the building was constructed recently and had 100 rooms, which would be “enough to accommodate these immigrants”.

“In Rawalpindi, 200 beds hospital building in Rawat will be utilised to house undocumented Afghans rounded up from the district,” he said and added that the action against undocumented immigrants would start from November 1.

Meanwhile, a joint implementation committee met at the commissioner’s office to finalise the plan to evict undocumented foreign nationals. Regional Police Officer Syed Khurram Ali also participated in the meeting.

Speaking on the occasion, the commissioner said data of foreign nationals “residing illegally throughout the division is in finalising stage”.

“Afghan nationals were given the deadline of October 31, 2023, and since the given date is approaching, stern action will be started from November 1, 2023,” he added.

He directed that the deputy commissioners and DPOs of all districts of Rawalpindi submit their “final lists” to the commissioner’s office after comparing their tally with other security agencies.

“Along with this, a specific place should be identified where these foreigners are to be assembled; arrangements for their stay, food, and transportation to the Torkham border should be completed immediately,” he directed.

The commissioner said before this operation, a strong awareness campaign was launched by the administration urging the refugees to go back voluntarily or face a crackdown by the state. He added that no one would be abused during the process, but the government would not allow “illegal foreigners” to stay in Pakistan.

Speaking on the occasion, RPO Syed Khurram Ali said the government approved the issuance of eviction orders under the Foreigners Act from November 1.

“Arrest, detention and deportation of Afghan nationals have been decided under the Foreigners Act,” he said. The police official said under-trial and convicted Afghan citizens for serious crimes would not be deported, while under-trial and Afghan citizens convicted for minor crimes would be deported.

“Afghans arrested from Punjab will be sent to Rawalpindi for deportation and then they will be transferred to the established centre. He said Afghans staying illegally [in Pakistan] have no option but to leave Pakistan till October 31,” the RPO said.

On the other hand, the Rawalpindi police arrested more than 27 Afghan nationals from different parts of the district. According to sources, the city police officer directed the police across the district to detain Afghan nationals residing or doing business in their respective jurisdictions.

They said the police had arrested 18 Afghans from Jatli, five from Mandra, two from Race Course, and two from Gujar Khan areas till the filing of this report.

A police official said that following the caretaker cabinet’s decision to deport foreign nationals residing illegally in the country, the police had started “collecting data of Afghans living illegally in Rawalpindi”.

A significant number of Afghan nationals have been residing in different parts of Rawalpindi, including Pirwadhai, Sadiqabad and Naseerabad. Many Afghan citizens have also settled in urban or semi-urban areas as well as villages.— Additional repoting by Mohammad Asghar

Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2023