Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has directed the provincial authorities to compile data on illegal immigrants residing in Punjab after the Apex Committee decided to begin a crackdown against illegal foreign nationals residing in the country.

CM Naqvi issued directions to the inspector general of Punjab and RPOs of all districts of the province to verify CNIC cards of the illegal immigrants, and to immediately block illegal identity cards, sources said.

The Punjab police have been tasked to carry out the operation to collect the data of the illegal immigrants, without showing any kind of leniency towards the illegal immigrants, they added.

Over 700 Afghan nationals arrested in Karachi

Following the government’s decision to expel illegal immigrants from Pakistan, a crackdown against Afghan nationals illegally settled in Pakistan has come into full swing and police in Karachi have arrested over 700 Afghan nationals.

A report shared by the Sindh police shows that they have arrested 782 Afghan nations illegally settled in Pakistan in operations launched between September 9 to October 3 in Karachi.

A maximum of 204 illegal refugees were arrested from District East, while 135 from District Malir, 126 from Kimari, 114 from Korangi, 90 from District Central, 58 from District West, and 20 from District South were arrested in the crackdown while city police arrested 35 illegal refugees.

Police officials said all Afghan nationals were residing in Pakistan illegally and they were booked under foreigners’ acts.

Moreover, the police registered separate cases against those refugees found involved in criminal practices.

However, the government set November 1 as the deadline for Illegal foreign nationals residing in Pakistan to leave the country.

Interim minister Sarfaraz Bugti said at a press conference in Islamabad, “We have given the November 1 deadline to our illegal immigrants and illegal citizens who are living in Pakistan with means. Until November 1, they should voluntarily return to their countries.”

It was decided that the immigrants would have time to sell their assets and return to their country of origin. In case they fail to comply, they would be expelled and their properties confiscated.

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“And if they do not leave until the given deadline, we will deport them with the help of all of our law enforcement agencies and government institutions,” the minister said.