In Islamabad, Saudi Arabian authorities have reported the recovery of more than 12,000 Pakistani passports from Afghan nationals.
This development has raised concerns about the performance of national institutions. Riyadh authorities have informed Islamabad about this issue, shedding light on how Afghan citizens obtained these fake passports through various passport centers in Pakistan.
In response, a high-level committee, comprising representatives from the Interior Ministry, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and sensitive government agencies, has been established by the Ministry of Interior. This committee is tasked with identifying those responsible for issuing counterfeit passports and compiling a list of the individuals involved. Subsequent legal actions will be taken against them in accordance with the country’s laws.
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This development comes after the government issued an ultimatum instructing all illegal foreign residents in Pakistan to leave the country by the end of October. This directive has prompted concerns from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) regarding the profiling of Afghan nationals with a focus on national security. The Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) has assured that legally residing Afghan nationals in Pakistan will not face harassment or arrest.
The process of evacuating Afghan citizens living illegally in Pakistan began last week, with 16 trucks transporting 20 families to the Torkham border. These 20 families, totaling 350 people, will be allowed to enter Afghanistan once they meet the legal requirements.
It’s important to note that Islamabad has hosted millions of refugees for decades, with a peak of up to five million Afghan refugees residing in Pakistan at one point. However, official records indicate a considerably lower number of individuals possessing valid refugee cards.
