Pakistan plans eviction of 1 million illegal immigrants
State news agency reports that in initial phase, all illegal residents identified as threats to national security will be removed
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan is set to expel over 1 million illegal foreign residents due to concerns over their alleged roles in supporting terrorist activities.
The state news agency Associated Press of Pakistan reported that in the initial phase, all illegal residents identified as threats to national security will be removed.
Subsequently, individuals with Afghan citizenship will be evicted in the second phase, followed by those possessing proof of residence cards in the third phase.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs has designed this eviction strategy in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Afghan government.
The decision comes on the heels of a series of terrorist attacks nationwide, prompting intensified scrutiny of illegal Afghan refugees.
Authorities claim that some of these refugees are involved in sponsoring, enabling, and trafficking terrorists.
Notably, 700,000 Afghans have failed to renew their residence proofs in Pakistan.
Recent U.N. data shows that approximately 1.3 million Afghans are registered as refugees, and another 880,000 possess legal residence status in Pakistan.
Since the start of September, around 700 Afghans have been detained in Karachi, with several others in different cities.
Afghan refugees have criticized these arrests as arbitrary, alleging that the police demand bribes and dismiss legal documents.
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