Only illegal foreign nationals being repatriated: Islamabad admin

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration has clarified that only illegal foreign nationals were being repatriated as per the law of the land.

“Concerning Afghan nationals, it is being clarified that those holding valid documentation — such as Proof of Registration (POR) cards, Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), visas, or those listed for third-country resettlement — are not being repatriated. The Islamabad Civil Administration remains committed to safeguarding the rights of all documented individuals,” said a press release issued by the Islamabad deputy commissioner’s office.

“The administration during the search and combing operations ensures that the law is upheld while allowing undocumented foreign nationals to validate their status,” the press release said.

The press release said that in 2025, a total of 183 illegal foreign nationals were deported from Islamabad while two illegal nationals are being kept in holding areas.

“It is important to note that all the time, these deported individuals lacked any form of legal documentation to remain in Pakistan. The authorities continue to act strictly per the law, targeting only those who fail to present valid credentials,” it said.

“The civil administration reaffirms its commitment to ensuring fair and humane treatment of all individuals while strictly adhering to legal requirements. Foreign nationals are encouraged to ensure they carry valid documentation to avoid any inconvenience.”

On November 27, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi announced that Afghan nationals without no objection certificates (NOCs) will not be permitted to stay in Islamabad from December 31 onwards. 

Talking to the media in Islamabad, Naqvi said, “Any Afghan citizen wishing to stay in Islamabad must obtain an NOC from the deputy commissioner’s office. After December 31, they will not be allowed to stay in the capital city without it,” he said. 

His comments came after it emerged that of the 610 individuals arrested during the crack down on the Pakistan Threek-e-Insaf protesters, 37 were Afghan nationals.

In December, the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Peshawar arrested six Afghan nationals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over their alleged involvement in forging Pakistani identity cards.

“Six Afghan nationals involved in forging Pakistani identity cards have been arrested,” a statement by the FIA spokesperson said.

According to the statement, one arrest was made at the Torkham border that connects Afghanistan and Pakistan, while five others were apprehended from a hostel in Peshawar.

Initially, an Afghan citizen named Najibullah was arrested at the Torkham border, the FIA statement said, adding that a Pakistani Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC), as well as an Afghan Tazkira (Afghan identity card), were recovered from Najibullah.