Police begin checking Afghans after deadline ends

PESHAWAR: Police across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have started checking for foreigners without visas and valid travel documents after the August 31 deadline for Afghan refugees expired.

No strict action has been ordered so far by the government or police. However, district police have been instructed to deal with the matter respectfully and avoid humiliating refugee families.

Officials said police would knock on doors and politely ask refugees to return to Afghanistan since their Proof of Registration (PoR) Cards or Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) had long expired.

“Following the authorities’ instructions, a special checking campaign has begun from September 1 for foreigners. All police officers have been directed to check Afghan nationals in their respective areas, including those holding PoR or ACC cards,” read a letter issued to police in Malakand division. Similar orders were circulated in other districts and divisions.

“The details of foreigners should be properly verified during checking, and those without valid documents should be asked to leave. Anyone found living illegally or without documents must be reported, and legal action should be initiated immediately,” the order added.

It further directed that Afghan nationals with PoR or ACC cards must be registered and their credentials thoroughly checked. Coordination with other departments was also stressed for smooth operations.

“All SHOs and field officers must ensure effective checking in their police stations, checkpoints, and public places,” the order said. The government had set August 31 as the final deadline for Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan for more than 46 years, warning of action from September 1.

A senior official said: “Teams have been constituted at the sub-divisional level to identify Afghan families. The assistant commissioner of the area, along with the deputy superintendent of police and other concerned officials, will supervise the operations.”

Thousands of Afghans had applied for Pakistani visas in recent months after realizing they would no longer be allowed to stay without valid documents. Many received visas while their families returned home after decades in Pakistan. Most of the applicants were vendors and shopkeepers, while some ran restaurants and other small businesses. Several refugee camps across the country have already been closed, and more are in the process of being shut down.