As Pakistan starts nationwide deportation of immigrants without official residence documents in the country, the state of Sindh has decided to extend the refugee card of Afghans until December 31.
In an official letter, the province of Sindh has asked the Karachi police not to deport Afghans with "refugee cards".
In the letter seen by Afghanistan International, the state of Sindh has written to the Inspector General of the Sindh State Police, the Rangers security force of the state, and the Karachi Police that the issue of the renewal of the Afghan Refugee Card (POR) will be decided after December 31, 2023.
A POR card is a document issued to Afghan refugees, based on which Afghan refugees can legally stay in Pakistan.
According to the information published on the website of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, this card is valid throughout Pakistan.
The United Nations has asked all Afghans to always carry this identity card with them so that they are not to arrested.
However, on Thursday, video clips from Rawalpindi City, reached Afghanistan International showing Pakistani police detaining Afghan refugees holding UN refugee cards.
Earlier, the UN Refugee Agency office in Islamabad confirmed to Afghanistan International that there are reports about the detention of migrants with official residence documents.
Earlier, the government of Pakistan asked the immigrants without official residency documents to leave the country before November 1.
With the end of this deadline, the Ministry of Interior of Pakistan has intensified the detention and forced deportation of Afghan immigrants throughout the country.
