Special cell for foreigners’ registration inaugurated

Karachi

The provincial police chief inaugurated the Foreigners Registration Office’s Special Branch on Sunday.

A police spokesperson said Rs5 million was also released for this cell.

IGP AD Khowaja was given a detailed briefing about the office, he added.

The IGP ordered that records of foreigners’ particulars should be preserved.

The registration of their arrival as well as other required documents should be made part of the records.

He instructed that in collaboration with NADRA, a software should be prepared for preserving the entire data pertaining to their period of stay and visa validity dates.

The IGP also instructed that trained staff should be deployed for duty at the cell.

In a talk with The News earlier this year, Additional IGP Sanaullah Abbasi had highlighted the working of the Special Branch. He said its Security Branch was responsible for the security of VVIPs and assessment and technical support on the security of foreigners, important buildings and events. This branch also carries out the verification of government officials, security companies, pre-visa verification (Indian) and airport entry passes.

Speaking on the issue of foreigners’ registration, Abbasi said the task was assigned to the Special Branch in Karachi and district police officers in rest of Sindh. “It has been proposed that the Special Branch offices in the rural Sindh be allowed to register foreigners,” he added.

“The Special Branch is investigating, prosecuting illegal foreigners and deporting illegal Afghans through the Chaman border. Under the law, this is the mandate of the Federal Investigation Agency and this issue may be taken up with the interior ministry.”

 

Eid security

The IGP directed the police officials to ensure the implementation of the security contingency plan prepared for the coming Eid-ul-Azha.

He further instructed that all stakeholders should be taken into confidence for this purpose.

He told officials to ensure that all registered welfare and social bodies as well as other stakeholders and madrasas followed the code of ethics issued by the provincial government.

The IGP also directed that the list of all the mosques and eidgahs should be reviewed and deployment of police there should be ensured.

The police chief also ordered security arrangements for shopping centres and cattle markets.