RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi police said it has detained 76 illegal Afghan nationals residing in different parts of the garrison city and registered 21 cases against those who failed to register their data as tenants.

A police spokesman said that following City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Khalid Hamdani’s directives, search operations were conducted in different areas of Rawalpindi district.

During the search operations, 1,375 houses, 412 shops, 28 hotels and a total of more than 1,709 people were checked by police teams comprising district police officials and one official each from the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), Security Branch and Special Branch field staff.

The spokesman said that during the operations, 76 illegal Afghan residents were detained, while four junkyards, three bus/truck stands and tenant records were also checked by the police teams.

In addition, 21 cases were registered against those who did not provide their tenancy details to the concerned police stations.

Search operations were conducted in Kallar Syedan, Rawat, Gujar Khan, Chountra, Dhamial, Kahuta, Jatli, Saddar Beruni, Pirwadhai, Ratta Amral, Ganjmandi, City, Waris Khan, Banni, New Town, Sadiqabad, Sahial, Naseerabad, Civil Lines, Morgah and Cantt areas.

The spokesman said the aim of the search operations was to establish law and order and curb crime, and all resources are being utilised to enforce the rule of law and maintain order.

In line with the government’s orders, the police crackdown against illegal Afghan nationals was continuing. However, the SSP Operations expressed concern over the police performance in this regard.

Keeping in view the police performance, a task force has been established, and 13 special units of the police have been tasked with apprehending illegal Afghan nationals and transporting them to holding centres on a daily basis, except those holding valid visas.

Following the suicide bomb attack in Islamabad on Tuesday, which killed 12 people and injured 35 others, the security level in the adjoining city of Rawalpindi was raised to high alert, and the crackdown against illegal Afghan nationals intensified.

Extra security personnel have been deployed outside the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench, district and ATC courts, as well as other government buildings and police establishments. Entry of people into court premises and police facilities has been subjected to strict checking and body searches.

Published in Dawn, November 17th, 2025