Punjab police to get gadgets to identify illegal Afghans, foreigners

LAHORE: The Punjab government has initially decided to start the eviction of illegal Afghans and other nationals from Rawalpindi, Sargodha and Dera Ghazi Khan.

The decision was taken in a meeting held at the Corps Headquarters (4 Corps) presided over by Additional Chief Secretary Interior Mian Muhammad Shakeel. In the meeting, the Additional IG Special Branch, Additional IGC CTD, Chief of Staff Head Quarter (4 Corps), Brigadier Internal Security (4 Corps), DIG (Operations) Punjab Police besides Director General (NADRA), representatives of Military Intelligence, ISI, FIA and Commissioner of Afghan Refugees participated. According to the information received by “Jang”, it has been decided that the administration of all districts of the province will not arrest more than 50 illegally residing Afghan citizens and other foreigners in their districts at a time for deportation.

Police in all districts will be provided with hand devices and tablets in which NADRA will install the data of all Afghan nationals residing in Pakistan who have (POR) or (ACC) cards. Police of all districts will identify illegal Afghan nationals through these devices. According to NADRA records, Afghan nationals with (POR) and (ACC) cards will not be arrested at present.

Afghan nationals with (POR) and (ACC) cards will be moved to holding areas to be set up in respective districts, after which they will be taken to the international border for deportation after fulfilling all legal requirements. It was decided in the meeting that NADRA, ISI, MI and Commissioner of Afghan Refugees will provide details of all legal and illegal foreign nationals to the Special Branch and Counter-Terrorism Department Punjab.

The NADRA Director General will appoint his focal person to communicate with all stakeholders. It was also decided in the meeting that the Punjab Home Department will put all the information related to illegal resident foreign nationals on the portal/dashboard. All stakeholders will have access to the information on these dashboards. The Punjab Home Department will also hold a media campaign based on the government policy regarding illegally staying foreign nationals for the general public from October 29 to 31.

It was also decided in the meeting that representatives of FIA and NADRA will prepare all necessary documents for the deportation of illegally staying foreign nationals in the holding areas/centres.