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More than 250 Afghan nationals, including women and children, have been detained in Karachi for forced repatriation under the federal government’s Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan (IFRP), as reported by Dawn on Friday.
According to the report, 256 Afghan nationals holding Afghan Citizenship Cards (ACC) were picked up during a citywide crackdown by law enforcement agencies and shifted to a repatriation camp at Ameen House in Sultanabad.
They are expected to be deported to Afghanistan via Balochistan, pending clearance from relevant authorities. The crackdown follows the end of the March 31 deadline for voluntary return.
As per Dawn, the interior division had issued directions to the Sindh government on February 13, 2025, to begin forced repatriation of all ACC holders following the completion of Phase-I of the IFRP.
DIG-South Syed Asad Raza told Dawn that 286 Afghans had so far been brought to Ameen House. Among them, 30 were released after they presented Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, which grant them legal refugee status and protection under Pakistani law.
The joint mapping survey conducted by the police’s Special Branch and other law enforcement agencies identified 16,138 ACC holders residing in Karachi.
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The highest concentration was found in District East (11,233), followed by District West (2,792). Smaller numbers were located in Korangi (910), Malir (396), Central (406), Keamari (203), South (120), and City (78), the report stated.
However, human rights activists have raised alarm over the process.
Moniza Kakar, a lawyer and founding member of the Joint Action Committee for Refugees, told Dawn that between 500 to 600 Afghans had already been detained during operations in various localities.
She also alleged incidents of harassment and bribery by officials during the crackdown, claiming Afghan families were being asked for money to avoid arrest.
According to her, there are around 55,000 Afghans living in the Sohrab Goth Afghan Camp, most of whom work in New Subzi Mandi and surrounding areas. Since the raids began, many have stopped going to work, fearing detention.
Kakar noted that the ACCs were issued in 2017 to nearly 850,000 Afghans across Pakistan, including approximately 70,000 in Karachi. Legal petitions have already been filed in Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Rawalpindi, and preparations are underway to launch similar legal challenges in Sindh.
