KARACHI — Law enforcement agencies carried out a major joint operation in Karachi’s Sohrab Goth area, detaining 21 Afghan nationals allegedly residing in the city without legal documentation.
According to officials, the coordinated action was launched by Pakistan Rangers, the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), and the Sohrab Goth Police as part of an ongoing campaign against illegal Afghan residents across the metropolis.
A police spokesperson said the operation was conducted in multiple parts of the Sohrab Goth division, where entry and exit points were sealed before officers carried out house-to-house searches.
“During the search, 21 Afghan nationals were found to be living illegally and were taken into custody,” the spokesperson confirmed, adding that the detained individuals are currently undergoing verification.
Police further stated that after initial interrogation, the detainees would be shifted to a designated holding facility for undocumented Afghans. From there, authorities will initiate the process of their repatriation to Afghanistan.
DSP Sohrab Goth emphasized that the operation is part of an ongoing campaign to remove all foreign nationals living in Pakistan without valid papers. “The crackdown will continue, but no one will be harassed unnecessarily,” he assured.
Sindh Home Minister Ziaul Hassan Lanjar also weighed in on the matter, reiterating that the state’s policy on illegal Afghan residents is “clear and firm.”
“Illegal Afghan citizens across the country are being repatriated in line with national policy,” the minister said, adding that strict instructions have been issued to police and other agencies to ensure the plan’s full enforcement.
Rejecting what he called “false propaganda” circulating on social media, the home minister clarified that there is no leniency for Afghans residing illegally in Karachi. “Implementation of the state’s decision is being ensured without exception,” he said.
Lanjar also urged the public to cooperate with authorities in identifying illegal immigrants, stressing that maintaining law and order is a shared responsibility.
This operation is part of the broader nationwide effort to address the issue of undocumented foreign nationals, particularly following the government’s decision to repatriate all illegal immigrants by the end of the year.
