Authorities in Rawalpindi have stepped up operations to detain and deport Afghan nationals living illegally in the city and its surrounding districts, as part of a broader government campaign targeting undocumented foreign residents.
During a recent sweep, law-enforcement officials placed 74 Afghan nationals into custody and filed 20 legal cases, including against Pakistani landlords who leased property to undocumented Afghans despite regulatory bans.
The drive is being coordinated by district police under orders from provincial authorities, calling on citizens to report illegal foreign residents and emphasising that even legal foreign nationals must ensure they remain documented and registered.
In parallel, the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) and immigration agencies are targeting fake identity-cards, pledging to cancel forged Pakistani IDs held by foreign nationals. More than 5,000 Afghans in the Rawalpindi region have reportedly been detained or repatriated as part of the crackdown.
Officials emphasise the urgency of the operation, warning that property owners, employers, and anyone facilitating undocumented residence will face legal consequences alongside the foreign nationals themselves.
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