MANSEHRA: The district administration, in a joint operation with police, arrested more than a dozen Afghan nationals to be deported to their home country upon completion of legal formalities.

“Our crackdown against foreign nationals living illegally anywhere in the district is well underway, and we arrested over a dozen Afghans living underground to escape the action,” Abdullah Khan, assistant commissioner (revenue), told reporters here on Thursday.

The joint operation, led by Mr Khan, raided different points and arrested the Afghan nationals and shifted them to different police stations.

Faisal Khalil, the SHO of Larri Adda police station, also led a team during the crackdown and arrested Afghans, who were still running businesses while remaining behind the scene.

The joint team also raided possible points in the vegetable market and arrested an Afghan national living without lawful authority.

Meanwhile, a police team also met Afghan families settled in parts of the city and its suburbs and warned them of strict action if they didn’t leave for their homeland.

The district administration also demolished makeshift houses occupied by the Afghans in Ichrian, Barari, Sheikhabad, Batdairan areas of the district.

The administration has also warned the local people of strict legal action for renting their houses to Afghan nationals.

“If anybody gives his/her house to Afghans on rent, he/she would face the law under the National Action Plan and other relevant laws,” an official said.

He added that the crackdown would continue against foreigners still illegally living anywhere in the district.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2026