The caretaker government of Pakistan has announced a plan to evict 1.1 million foreigners living illegally in the country due to their involvement in funding and facilitating terrorism and other illegal activities. This decision is part of the government’s efforts to ensure national security, as stated by the state-run wire service, Associated Press of Pakistan.
According to the report, the eviction process will be conducted in three phases. In the first phase, illegal residents without proper documentation will be deported. In the second phase, Afghan citizens residing in the country without legal status will be expelled. And in the third phase, those with proof of residence cards that have expired or are no longer valid will be removed from the country.
The report emphasizes that these illegally residing foreigners pose a serious threat to the security of Pakistan. It also mentions that a significant number of Afghan citizens residing in Pakistan are involved in funding, facilitating, and smuggling terrorists. Furthermore, approximately 700,000 Afghans have not renewed their proof of residence cards.
The interior ministry has collaborated with stakeholders and the Afghan government to develop this plan. It has also directed relevant authorities to compile a record of Afghans living without permits and arrange for their transportation to the Afghan border.
This recent development reflects the government’s ongoing crackdown on Afghan refugees. In September, there has been an increase in the rounding up and detention of Afghan refugees, primarily targeting those without legal status. The government justifies this crackdown as necessary to address illegal immigration and rising crime.
According to the latest United Nations figures, there are approximately 1.3 million registered Afghan refugees and 880,000 individuals with legal status to remain in Pakistan. However, the government maintains that the recent arrests focus only on those without proper documentation.
Afghans residing in Pakistan have expressed concerns about the indiscriminate nature of the arrests. They accuse the police of extorting money and disregarding legal documents. The tensions between Islamabad and Kabul’s new Taliban government and the economic hardship faced by Pakistani households have also led to rising anti-Afghan sentiment.
Overall, the government’s decision to evict illegally residing foreigners is driven by security concerns and aims to maintain national stability. Efforts are being made to ensure a comprehensive and lawful process for the eviction while considering the needs and rights of the individuals involved.