Operation for deportation of Afghan citizen card holders from April 15

The cardholders will be asked to return to Afghanistan voluntarily first. Later, they will be arrested and deported

By Asif Mehmood Butt

March 18, 2024

Afghan refugees arrive in trucks from Pakistan at the Afghanistan-Pakistan Torkham border in Nangarhar province on October 30, 2023. — AFP

LAHORE: The federal interior ministry has issued orders to the Punjab government to start phase two of an operation for the deportation of Afghan citizen card holders from April 15.

Federal Interior Secretary Aftab Durrani presided over a video link meeting along with Punjab Home Secretary Noorul Amin and other top officials. Sources said the federal government will provide Punjab with lists of Afghan Citizen Card Holders, which will be shared with the police and other law enforcement agencies.

The card holders will be asked to return to Afghanistan voluntarily first. Later, they will be arrested and deported. Sources said that the data of Afghan citizen card holders is available with the federal government due to which difficulties faced in the past in tracing illegal foreigners will no longer occur.

Sources said that immediately after the completion of phase two of deportation of foreigners, a briefing was also given about starting phase three in which Afghan POR (Proof of Residence) card holders will be deported. Sources said that more than 400,000 illegal foreign Afghans have been deported so far.