Crackdown against illegal immigrants launched after expiry of deadline

QUETTA (92 News) - Law enforcement agencies on Wednesday launched an operation against illegal immigrants after the expiry of the deadline for their return to homelands voluntarily.

Dozens of people residing illegally in Pakistan have been arrested in different cities. They have been shifted to holding centres.

The Rawalpindi commissioner said that over 100 illegal Afghan immigrants have been arrested from the twin cities. Sixty-four Afghan nationals have been have been handed over to the Islamabad administration from the Adiala jail.

The district administration sent two buses carrying illegal Afghan nationals to Torkham for their further repatriation. The Pir Wadhai police station shifted two Afghan nationals to the holding centre.

Moreover, illegal immigrants involved in petty crimes will also be repatriated phase-wise after being shifted to holding centres.

On the other hand, the Afghan nationals' are also voluntarily returning to their homeland and so far 126,000 Afghan nationals have returned. A large number of Afghan refugees are present at Torkham and Chaman borders.

In Karachi, 20 illegal immigrants have been arrested from Jamali Bridge, Sohrab Goth. The arrested have been shifted to holding centres.

In Attock city, about 44 illegal Afghan nationals have been arrested and shifted to transit camps. However, registered Afghan refugees will be released after the verification by the NADRA. Security has been tightened at the transit centres.