In line with the instructions of the Punjab government, provincial authorities have started cracking down on illegally residing Afghans in Pakistan, detaining them for deportation and registering cases against Pakistanis facilitating them.
Last week, the Punjab government warned it would register FIRs against anyone who rents or leases property to illegal foreign nationals, including Afghans residing unlawfully in the province. In this regard, law enforcers were directed to submit daily reports on any property rented to foreign nationals.
Subsequently, police in Rawalpindi have registered 63 cases and arrested 18 landlords for renting out properties to Afghan nationals without verification. As part of the crackdown, 216 Afghan citizens have been taken into custody, and shifted to holding centers prior to their deportation.
The provincial government is accompanying its crackdown with awareness campaigns through mosques and social media, warning of legal action against anyone who facilitates illegally residing foreigners in the country.
According to local media, the crackdown has expedited an exodus of Afghans from Pakistan. On Friday alone, 5,220 Afghans, including 2,314 undocumented individuals, crossed the Torkham border back into Afghanistan. Otherwise shut for all traffic amidst tensions between Kabul and Islamabad, the border crossing was reopened for the repatriation.
Overall, during the current repatriation drive, over 54,000 documented and 628,000 undocumented Afghans have returned to their homeland.