GUJRAT: Two teams of the Punjab government have launched separate drives in the district to collect data on Afghan nationals residing here and for scrutiny of religious seminaries.

Official sources told Dawn that a technical team of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) had been working closely with the police and other law enforcement agencies in connection with a survey aimed at counting all the Afghan refugees settled in the district, regardless of the fact whether they possessed residential documents (refugee cards) or they were without such papers.

According to a rough estimate made by the local police and administration, some 5,000 Afghans with refugee cards are residing in the district. Another estimate suggests the number of illegal Afghan nationals in the district is around two to three thousands. But none of the government agencies have authenticated data of Afghan nationals in this regard.

An official said the following the data collection the measures would be taken to either send these Afghans back to their country or to limit them to the refugee camps.

The police have so far lodged cases against at least 200 illegal Afghan nationals under Foreign Act and most of them are still behind the bars, he added.

Sources said the Punjab government had issued verbal instructions to the police and district administration across the province to take strict measures ensuring return of all Afghan nationals to their country or at least to the refugee camps. They said later a drive would also be launched for the purpose.

Local police have been conducting “search operations” in the areas where Afghan nationals are residing as per the government instructions.

Another PITB team was working on the registration of religious seminaries in the district. In this connection a form is being given to all seminaries’ managements which they are supposed to return within a week after filling in the required information.

The team is also collecting visual data (photographs) on these seminaries, uploading it on a website designed by the PITB.

A senior official said these steps were being taken as per the guidelines given in the National Action Plan (NAP) so that a complete database of these institutions (mosques, seminaries) and concerned people (hardcore activists of the banned and sectarian outfits and Afghan nationals) could be established for any further action.

The sources said there were at least 2,000 unregistered mosques in the district, besides some 323 registered mosques, whereas the number of seminaries was said to be around 350.

Published in Dawn, February 27th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play