The Punjab government arrested hundreds of Afghans residing illegally in the province. The operation targets those living or running businesses without proper documentation and using fake IDs.
Cash reward of Rs10,000
Punjab Police now offered citizens a cash reward of Rs10,000 for every illegal Afghan they report. Informants’ identities will remain fully confidential. Identities of informants will remain completely confidential.
Police IGP instructed all SHOs across Punjab to ensure that anyone providing information about illegal Afghans receives this reward. The initiative also targets landlords and shop owners who are illegally renting to these individuals.
The crackdown is not limited to outright illegal residents; Afghans in Pakistan on tourist or medical visas who are running businesses will also face legal action.
Also read: Pakistani passport ranked 103 due to Afghans’ illegal travel, NA informed
Citizens helping the authorities by reporting such cases will similarly be rewarded Rs10,000 per case.
Punjab Police is calling on citizens to play an active role in this enforcement drive, promising swift action and full confidentiality for whistleblowers.
The number of Afghan nationals arrested in Pakistan jumped by around 150pc in early November, largely due to the reopening of border crossings at Chaman and Torkham.
A total of 7,764 were detained, mostly in Balochistan, with Chagai, Attock, and Quetta recording the highest numbers.
Returns and deportations also rose sharply, with 37,448 individuals returning to Afghanistan, including 7,733 deportations compared to the previous week.
Most returnees were PoR card holders (47%) or undocumented (44%), while deportees were overwhelmingly undocumented (93%). Fear of arrest was the main reason cited for returning.
