QUETTA, Feb 11: Fifty Afghan nationals were arrested in Quetta and Noshki late Monday evening during a crackdown launched by police and other law-enforcement agencies against unregistered refugees.

“We have arrested 28 refugees living in the suburbs of Quetta,” a senior administration official told this correspondent, adding that 22 refugees were taken into custody in Noshki district. They have been booked under relevant sections of the Foreigners ACT.

He said that the crackdown would continue and those arrested would be repatriated to their country.

Afghan refugees are found involved in crimes, including kidnapping for ransom and subversive activities, in Quetta and other areas of Balochistan.

The decision about the crackdown was made by the provincial administration at a meeting on repatriation of Afghan refugees last week. The administrations of the districts located on Afghan border have been directed by provincial Home Secretary Akbar Hussain Durrani to take action against illegal immigrants, particularly Afghan refugees.