The Federal Government “advised” the headlines of the Afghan Citizens Card (ACC), as well as all illegal foreigners, who leave the country before March 31 as part of their repatriation campaign.
The ACC is an identification document issued to national Afghan registered by NADRA. According to the International UN Migration Organization (IIM), the ACC grants temporary legal status to Afghans during their stay in Pakistan. However, the Federal Government makes the decision on the duration of which the ACC would remain valid.
In November 2023, Pakistan launched an offensive against undocumented foreigners. Since then, more than 815,000 individuals have been repatriated. One of the first actions of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, when he returned to office was to stop the Afghan resettlement program, who had worked with US forces before their withdrawal of 2021 or were involved in human rights activism. The suspension has interrupted the processing and relocation of almost 25,000 Afghans currently in Pakistan, many of whom remain at risk of persecution under the Taliban regime due to their past affiliations.
Earlier this month, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, had hinted at the possibility of deporting Afghans that were no longer eligible for resettlement in the United States.
In a press release issued today, the Interior Ministry said that the illegal foreigners’s repatriation program (IFRP) was being implemented since November 1, 2023.
“In the continuation of the government’s decision to repatriate all illegal foreigners, national leadership has now also decided to repatriate the owners of ACC. All illegal foreigners and ACC holders are advised to leave the country voluntarily before March 31, 2025; From then on, deportation will begin with effect as of April 1, 2025.
“It is noted that sufficient time has already been granted for its dignified return,” said the Ministry of Interior.
He stressed that no one would be mistreated during the repatriation process and food arrangements and medical care for foreigners who return were also implemented.
“Pakistan has been a friendly host and continues to fulfill its commitments and obligations as a responsible state. It is reiterated that people who stay in Pakistan will have to comply with all legal formalities and comply with the Constitution of Pakistan, “the ministry said.
The United Nations Agency for Refugees (UNHCR) and the IOM had expressed concern last month for the “designed plan” of the Government to get the registered Afghan refugees from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, seeking clarity of the Government about the “modality and framework of time” of the relocation.
The government had devised a plan to get the afiganos registered refugees outside Islamabad and Rawalpindi and gradually repatriate them back to their country, the sources with knowledge of the plan had said Sunrise last month.
The authorities also went to implement the plan without making any public announcement in this regard.
According to Phase I of the relocation plan, the Afghan citizens who have the ACC would “immediately” out of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Then they would be sent back to Afghanistan along with illegal and undocumented refugees.
In January, the Federal Government had assured the Supreme Court that all Afghan refugees living in Pakistan after registration in any way, including the holders of the registration card test (PORS) or ACCS, would receive full legal protection and would not be stopped or deported.
This promise extended until June 30, 2025, according to the notification of July 22, 2024 issued by the Ministry of States and the Frontier regions. The total number of by and ACI complies that live in Pakistan is estimated at 1.3 million and 700,000, respectively.
