7,872 unregistered Afghan nationals arrested in Peshawar in 2016

Police officials say 11 nabbed for having fake CNICs

PESHAWAR: As many as 4,139 cases were lodged and 7,872 Afghan nationals illegally residing in the provincial capital were arrested under the 14 Foreigners Act during the current year, officials told The News.

The police also arrested 11 Afghan nationals for having fake Pakistani computerised national identity cards (CNICs). The arrests are likely to increase after the government announced cash rewards for those helping to identify Afghan nationals having fake CNICs.

The Hayatabad Police Station tops the list having arrested 1,133 Afghan nationals for staying in Peshawar without the Proof of Registration (POR) cards or any travel documents to legalise their stay.

Thousands of well-off Afghans live in the posh Hayatabad town in Peshawar while many reside in Faqirabad, Paharipura, Tehkal, University Town and other localities.

Besides, 883 illegally residing Afghans were arrested from the limits of the Pishtakhara Police Station, 550 from Paharipura, 479 from Faqirabad, 457 from Sarband, 373 in Nasirbagh, 360 from Tehkal, 286 in Badaber, 259 from Bhanamari and 248 from the jurisdiction of the Kabuli Police Station. Other police stations of the city, cantonment and rural circles have also contributed to the list.

“These cases were registered between January 1 and July 11. Only those Afghan are held who neither have their POR cards nor have any other document to legalise their stay in Pakistan,” Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations Peshawar Abbas Majeed Marwat told The News.

He said the cops
have been clearly directed not to bother any Afghan who possesses the POR card or valid travel documents that legalise their stay in Pakistan.

Pakistan recently extended the stay of the registered Afghan refugees in the country for another six months till December 2016.

The action against the unregistered Afghans was undertaken under the National Action Plan, launched after the terrorist attack on the Army Public School in Peshawar in December 2014.

The police have also registered cases against Afghan nationals who have made fake Pakistani CNICs from the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra).

“So far 10 such cases have been registered and 11 accused have been arrested for having fake Pakistani CNICs,” added Abbas Majeed Marwat.

There are thousands of Afghan nationals who are believed to have got fake CNICs during the last several years. A large number of Afghans are living in the posh urban and suburban localities for several years where they own houses, businesses and other properties.

Action has already been started against the illegally staying Afghans in different settled and tribal areas of the country. Recently unregistered Afghan refugees in Jamrud, Landikotal and Shabqadr, Charsadda were directed to leave Pakistan at a short notice.

Pakistan has also installed a border management system at Torkham. Thousands of Afghans used to enter Pakistan via Torkham every day without any proper documents to meet their relatives, visit hospitals and for business trips and other purposes. After the installation of the new system, they cannot enter Pakistan at Torkham without visa or “rahdari” (perrmit), which is valid for people living in the border areas.

In many areas, the elders and authorities have also directed the Afghan prayer leaders to leave the area. The locals have been asked to arrange Pakistani peshimams at mosques. Thousands of Afghans are studying in local madrassas and a large number of them lead prayers in mosques in different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.