Charsadda and Mohmand detain 50 undocumented Afghan nationals

CHARSADDA/MOHMAND: Authorities in Charsadda and Mohmand detained 50 Afghan nationals on Sunday in separate actions launched under the federal government’s policy on undocumented foreigners, according to police and district administration officials.

In Charsadda district, 47 Afghan citizens were taken into custody during the first day of an operation carried out in the tehsils of Charsadda, Shabqadar and Tangi. Officials said those detained did not possess valid documents allowing them to stay in Pakistan.

The district administration said the drive was conducted jointly by police and the civil administration as part of the wider campaign against foreign nationals living in the country without legal status. After initial legal formalities were completed, the 47 detainees were moved to Peshawar under strict security and placed in a designated holding centre.

Officials said the facility in Peshawar functions as a temporary transit point for undocumented foreign nationals while registration, verification and other legal requirements are completed. The district administration said that once the documentation and verification process at the holding centre is finished, deportation will proceed in line with government policy, and the Afghan nationals will then be sent back through the Torkham border crossing.

The administration said the action was taken under the applicable legal framework. Officials also said the campaign in Charsadda would continue in the coming days and urged foreign nationals living in the district to make sure they hold valid immigration and residency papers.

Three held in Mohmand

In a separate operation in Mohmand district, police arrested three undocumented Afghan nationals in Baizai tehsil and registered cases against them under the Foreigners Act, officials said.

According to police, the crackdown was launched on the directions of District Police Officer Mohmand Raza Muhammad as part of an ongoing campaign against unlawful activities and undocumented foreign nationals in the district. The operation was supervised by DSP Baizai Circle Pasham Gul Khan.

Police said SHO Sardar Hussain, along with a police contingent, set up special checkpoints at different places across the circle. During the checking of suspected individuals, officers arrested three Afghan nationals identified as Iqbal Shah, son of Karim Shah, Lal Gul, son of Faheem Shah, and Naw Gul, son of Iqbal Jan.

Officials said the operation against undocumented foreign nationals and other illegal activities would continue across Mohmand in accordance with the law. They also noted that Pakistan has stepped up implementation in recent months of its policy concerning undocumented foreign nationals, with verification and deportation operations carried out in different districts.