Punjab Police Detains Afghan Doctor and Medical Students Over Visa Issues

The Punjab police in Pakistan have recently arrested an Afghan doctor along with at least ten medical students, citing the expiration of their residency visas as the reason for their detention…

Unprecedented Arrests of Healthcare Professionals in Punjab

A new and concerning wave of arrests targeting Afghan nationals and migrants in Pakistan has now extended to medical professionals, specialists, and students. Reports indicate that police forces in Punjab have taken coordinated action to detain an Afghan doctor and at least ten students who were engaged in specialized training at educational hospitals and universities in the province.

Details of the Arrests from Universities and Hospitals

According to accurate information released, the ten detained individuals were completing their practical and specialized training at the renowned Quaid-e-Azam Medical College and Bahawalpur Teaching Hospital, where they were arrested by security personnel. Concurrently, Dr. Noorullah, a veteran and young Afghan physician employed at the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital in southeastern Punjab, was also taken into police custody.

Silence from Islamabad Authorities and Visa Expiry Hypothesis

Despite widespread media coverage of these events in regional outlets, official authorities and diplomatic entities in Pakistan have yet to release any explanations or official statements regarding the underlying reasons for these arrests. However, sources close to the detained students confirm that the main motivation for the police action was the expiration of these individuals’ residency visas. This series of arrests occurs amid a rising trend of forced expulsions, legal actions, and crackdowns on refugees and Afghan nationals across various cities in Pakistan, which have drawn sharp criticism from human rights organizations.