ISLAMABAD: The caretaker federal cabinet has taken an abrupt u-turn on the ongoing repatriation of Afghan nationals illegally living in Pakistan.
According to media reports, the Afghan nationals whose proof of residence cards had expired and were told to leave the country have now been allowed to live in the country till the elected government would take a decision after the Feb 8 elections.
The reports said that a summary seeking extension to the proof of residence cards had been moved by the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions which was now approved.
The repatriation of illegal Afghan nationals from Pakistan started on November 1, 2023, after the expiry of a four-week deadline given to them to leave the country voluntarily.
The government then continued a drive to send back all illegal aliens to their home countries.
After the expiry of the deadline set for the illegal Afghans to go back voluntarily on October 31, the police and other law enforcement agencies started action against those still staying in different cities and towns.
Sources said that the relief would benefit at least 1.3 million Afghan nationals living in the country without proper documents and who were facing deportation.
Earlier, the same summary moved by the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions had been rejected by the Cabinet Division. However, on the request of the Afghan regime in Kabul the caretaker government has now allowed the illegal Afghans to continue living in Pakistan.
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