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Saudi Arabian authorities have reported the recovery of more than 12,000 Pakistani passports from Afghan nationals, sparking concerns about institutional performance. Riyadh has informed Islamabad about this issue, revealing that Afghan citizens obtained these fraudulent passports through various passport centers in Pakistan.
In response, the Ministry of Interior has established a high-level committee, including members from the Interior Ministry, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and other government agencies. The committee’s main tasks are to identify those responsible for issuing counterfeit passports and compile a list of individuals involved. Legal actions will be taken against them in accordance with national laws.
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This development comes after the government issued an ultimatum, requiring all illegal foreign residents in Pakistan to leave by the end of October. This directive has raised concerns from the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) regarding the profiling of Afghan nationals and its impact 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 illegally residing Afghan citizens in Pakistan began last week, with 16 trucks transporting 20 families to the Torkham border. Once they meet the legal requirements, these 20 families, totaling 350 people, will be allowed to enter Afghanistan.
It’s important to note that Islamabad has hosted millions of refugees for decades, with a peak of up to five million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan at one point. However, official records indicate a considerably lower number of individuals possessing valid refugee cards.
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