Qaseem Shah:Â
QUETTA: Law enforcement agencies, including the police and Levies, have initiated a large-scale operation targeting undocumented immigrants across Pakistan, following the deadline set by the federal interior ministry. In Balochistan, the crackdown has intensified, particularly focusing on Afghan nationals living in various districts.
According to police officials, eight Afghan families were deported from Quetta, while dozens of others voluntarily returned to Afghanistan through the Friendship Gate in Chaman. Security personnel were deployed in large numbers to ensure a peaceful repatriation process at the border crossing.
However, the operation faced legal resistance in the Killa Saifullah district, where authorities stopped 30 families from being deported at Hanzi. This action followed a court ruling that temporarily blocked the expulsion of Afghan refugees who possess valid Proof of Registration (PoR) cards.
The Balochistan High Court issued the order in response to a constitutional petition filed by an Afghan refugee living in Quetta. A division bench comprising Chief Justice, Justice Ejaz Khan Swati, and Justice Mohammad Amir Nawaz Rana ruled that holders of PoR cards cannot be forcefully removed from the country until June 30, 2025.
Nusrat Afghan, legal counsel for the Afghan Union Group, welcomed the decision and emphasized that refugees with valid documents have legal protection under both national and international law. The ongoing operation has drawn attention from human rights advocates who urge authorities to respect the legal status of documented refugees during the enforcement drive.
