Illegal immigrants go underground to avoid deportation

Rawalpindi:A large number of illegal immigrants have gone underground to avoid action while rich and influential Afghanis were leading their lives here in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad as per routine without any fear and panic. The business activities of illegal Afghanis which remained closed for three days have once again opened here on Friday.

According to Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatha, “A total of 12,000 Afghans have been identified in the whole Rawalpindi district, of which 6000 are illegal while the remaining 6,000 are yet to be verified.”

‘The News’ conducted a survey that thousands of illegal Afghanis were settled for years here in the areas of Sadiqabad, Khayaban, Bangash Colony, Pirwdahi, Chakra, Adiala Road, Rawat, Kalar Syedan, Chak Beli Khan, Hazara Colony, Dhok Mangtal, Dhok Ratta, Qasimabad, Tehmasabad, Golra and Misriyal. Thousands of illegal Afghanis were settled in bulk in far-off areas of Rawalpindi as well.

There are two categories of illegal Afghanis in Rawalpindi and Islamabad in the first category there were poor people while in the second category established Afghanis (influential people). They are doing their business here in Saddar, Rehmanabad, Commercial Center, Pindowra, Banni, Sadiqabad and Pirwadhai areas. The majority of illegal Afghanis are doing business shoe selling, cloth, dry fruit, carpets, rugs, hotels, and sabzi/fruit.

Similarly, the majority of Afghanis are also doing property business while others were doing business selling and buying motors. The illegal Afghanis have occupied over 30 per cent of businesses here in Rawalpindi and Islamabad for years.

Well-placed sources told ‘The News’ that some illegal Afghanis were even taking government contracts for roads, buildings, and bridges. They have close contacts in Metropolitan Corporation Rawalpindi (MCR), WASA, RDA, PHA, and District Administration, Rawalpindi, the sources informed. The sources also said that these illegal Afghanis have fake ID Cards and other necessary documents.

As the police in the twin cities formed special teams to round up undocumented immigrants, the Islamabad police moved at least 64 Afghan nationals to the Torkham border crossing for deportation whereas the Rawalpindi police shifted more than 180 immigrants to a ‘holding centre’.

The Islamabad police officials said a team of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the capital police transported the illegal immigrants in two buses from Adiala jail to the border under strict security measures. The remaining immigrants will be shifted to the border in different phases.

Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatha said that the crackdown will continue till the removal of all illegal immigrants from all areas. “We have also set up holding camps where we will send illegal Afghans to their country through the Torkham border,” he assured.