CNN Central News & Network–ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Pakistan to Evict Afghan Refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi as Final Deadline Ends Today

The federal government’s deadline for Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders residing in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to leave the country expires today. Law enforcement agencies in both cities have been instructed to detain and deport Afghan nationals—along with their families—if they are found involved in criminal activities.

According to Dawn newspaper, the Rawalpindi police chief has directed superintendents of the Rawal, Potohar, and Saddar divisions to take legal action against illegal Afghan residents living or working in the district.

Police have been instructed to detain any Afghan national involved in criminal offenses. The directive also includes a form of collective punishment, stating that if any member of a family is involved in a crime, the entire family will be liable for deportation.

Following this directive, all Station House Officers (SHOs) in Rawalpindi have been ordered to detain Afghan nationals and their families residing within their respective jurisdictions.

A police official stated that Afghan citizens holding Proof of Registration (PoR) cards and residing in the twin cities should be warned that they, too, must leave Pakistan under the government’s policy. The eviction deadline for PoR cardholders is June 30, 2025. However, the police order does not clearly mention whether documented refugees will also be forcibly removed.

Search operations are currently ongoing in different parts of Rawalpindi to verify the identities of residents, particularly those living in rented accommodations.

Since the crackdown on illegal foreigners began in January this year, a total of 923 Afghan nationals have been detained and shifted to a refugee center near Golra Mor.

According to official records, as of March 26, 923 Afghan nationals were brought to the camp, 715 of whom were released after verification. At least 213 were sent to Torkham for repatriation. In addition to 116 ACC holders, the center detained 290 PoR card holders, 21 UNHCR token holders, and 24 individuals who had applied for resettlement in a third country.

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