Number of Afghan refugees in Rawalpindi crosses 35,000

Author: By Iqbal Malik

RAWALPINDI: The number of Afghans settled in Rawalpindi has surpassed 35,000 despite the strategy of interior minister, law enforcement agencies and Rawalpindi police and administration.

The administration has also given a deadline of 30 June for renewal of their cards to Afghans who are UN High Commission on Refugees (UNHCR) card holders.

Sources told the Daily Times that Afghan refugees settled in district Rawalpindi are divided in three categories. One among these categories comprises those refugees who have been issued cards from UNHCR. The second category is of those Afghan refugees who have obtained Pakistani National Identity Cards (NICs) illegally from NADRA. Afghan refugees who have no proof of identification fall in the third category.

Rawalpindi police could register 205 cases only under the foreign act from January 2015 to April 2016 against Afghans who are illegally settled in Rawalpindi and only 285 Afghans were arrested.

The NICs issued by NADRA to Afghans were blocked in large number on the report of security agencies. Sources said that NICs were issued by NADRA to a majority of the Afghans in Rawalpindi at the behest of local political figures.

Most of these Afghans are not only owning valuable properties costing billions of rupees in Rawalpindi but also they are doing jobs in civil and government departments besides running businesses.

Sources said that as many as 15 Afghans are employed in the workshop department, godown, kitchen, drivers and spokesman of Al-Bayrak Company. Afghans in majority are serving in different departments who are holding no documentary proof about their residence or identification in Pakistan. But they were provided jobs in local departments at the behest of local political leaders.

Sources disclosed that the investigation survey and scrutiny process was under way against the Afghans throughout district Rawalpindi.

According to police sources the scrutiny process of Afghans illegally settled in Rawalpindi is continuing on a fast track basis. On the basis of cards issued by UNHCR these Afghans are entitled to do jobs in any ordinary department.

However, complete verification of NICs issued by NADRA to these Afghans is carried out and cases under forgery charges and the foreign act are registered against the Afghans who are found holding suspicious cards. Afghans who are having no documentary evidence are arrested.