Punjab Police Detain Afghan Doctor and Medical Students Amid Visa Concerns

In a recent development, the Punjab police in Pakistan have detained an Afghan doctor and at least ten medical students over what they termed as expired residency visas…

Unprecedented Arrests of Health Professionals and Scholars in Punjab

A troubling new wave of arrests has emerged targeting Afghan nationals and migrants in Pakistan, particularly affecting scholars, professionals, and medical students. Reports indicate that the Punjab police have executed a coordinated action, apprehending an Afghan doctor and at least ten higher education students engaged in specialized training at hospitals and universities in the province.

Details of Student Arrests from University and Hospital

According to detailed reports, ten of the detainees were in the midst of their specialized and practical training at the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam University and Bahawalpur Educational Hospital when security personnel arrested them on-site. Simultaneously, Dr. Noorullah, an experienced young Afghan doctor working at the Sahival Teaching Hospital in southeastern Punjab, was also taken into custody by the police.

Silence from Islamabad Officials and Visa Expiration Theory

Despite significant media coverage of these incidents, official representatives and diplomatic entities in Pakistan have yet to provide any explanation or formal statement regarding the underlying reasons for these arrests. However, sources close to the detained students have confirmed that the main impetus behind the police action was the expiration of these individuals’ residency visas. These chain arrests occur in a context where the past few months have seen a dramatic increase in forced removals, legal actions, and confrontations against Afghan refugees and nationals in various cities across Pakistan, drawing sharp criticism from human rights organizations. For further insights, see our report on the Surge in Afghan Expulsions from Pakistan and the related Escalating Deportations of Afghan Nationals.