Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti declared on Friday that any legally residing Afghan found engaging in political activities in the country would face deportation. The nationwide campaign initiated by the caretaker government in November aimed at deporting illegal foreign nationals, predominantly Afghans, had drawn criticism from Afghanistan and other quarters. Despite opposition, the government maintained that the move was not targeted at any specific ethnic group.
Out of over four million Afghans in Pakistan, approximately 1.7 million are estimated to be undocumented. The ongoing deportation efforts have seen thousands of Afghans voluntarily returning from the Torkham and Chaman border crossings.
Bugti, providing an update during a press conference in Islamabad, announced a new policy for legal Afghan residents, including refugees with Afghan Citizen Cards or other relevant identification. According to him, these individuals are prohibited from engaging in any political activities in Pakistan. Initial identification revealed around 10 people involved in political activities, and they are in the process of being deported. The policy extends to all categories of Afghans with legal documentation, including those with business or tourist visas.
The interior minister emphasized that individuals holding visas from other countries or those with business visas, among others, would also face expulsion if found participating in political activities. With the general elections scheduled for February 8, Bugti stated that the deportation of such individuals would be expedited, and efforts were underway to locate them. An updated count of identified individuals would be provided within a week.
Bugti reported that, under the government’s deportation drive, 482,845 people had left the country through various borders, with 90 percent or slightly more leaving voluntarily. He affirmed that the first phase of the deportation drive was ongoing, emphasizing that in the second stage, everyone, eventually, would be required to return. Bugti concluded by asserting that the time was approaching when only Pakistanis would reside in Pakistan, and anyone wishing to enter the country would have to do so legally. He refuted media claims of mistreatment or harassment of refugees, citing figures as evidence.
