FAISALABAD, May 25: Secret agencies have reportedly been directed to send lists of illegal foreign settlers in their respective areas so that action could be taken against them.

Well placed sources told Dawn that heads of all secret agencies had asked their divisional heads to constitute special teams for collecting details about illegal settlers especially belonging to India and Afghanistan.

They said the step had been taken on the reports that some “spies” were hiding in main cities like Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Sargodha and had developed contacts with some influential people in their respective areas.

Special and security branches of the Punjab police, they said, had also been directed not to issue stay permits to foreigners without minutely checking their record, living standard of their hosts and reasons of their stay in Pakistan. Activities of Afghan nationals residing in various parts of Faisalabad and other cities should immediately be checked, they said.

Managements of local seminaries had already been asked by the local police not to allow stay to a foreigner without fulfilling legal requirements and directions of the government.

Meanwhile, the British Council authorities have reportedly suspended the formal setting up of its branch office in Faisalabad.

Sources revealed that six British nationals — Daine Marsland, Janet Smith, Robert Ervine, Janet Smith, Muhammad Asghar, Nazir Zahid — had left the city under the direction of the British government.