Punjab Police Detain Afghan Doctor and Medical Students Over Visa Issues

The Punjab police in Pakistan have made headlines by arresting an Afghan doctor along with at least ten medical students, citing the expiration of their residency visas as the reason for the detentions…

Unprecedented Arrests of Medical Professionals and Students in Punjab

Recently, a disturbing wave of arrests targeting Afghan citizens and migrants in Pakistan has begun impacting medical professionals, specialists, and students. Reports indicate that the Punjab police carried out a coordinated operation, detaining an Afghan doctor and at least ten higher education students who were engaged in specialized training at teaching hospitals and universities in the province.

Details of Arrests from Universities and Hospitals

According to detailed information released, ten of those arrested were currently undergoing their practical and specialized courses at the renowned Quaid-e-Azam University of Medical Sciences and Bahawalpur Teaching Hospital, where they were apprehended on-site by security officials. Simultaneously, Dr. Noorullah, a young and experienced Afghan doctor working at the Sahiwal Teaching Hospital in southeastern Punjab, was also taken into custody by police.

Silence from Islamabad Authorities and Visa Expiration Theory

Despite extensive media coverage of this event in regional outlets, no official statements or clarifications regarding the underlying reasons for these arrests have been provided by Pakistani authorities or diplomatic entities. However, sources close to the detained individuals have confirmed that the primary motivation for the police actions appears to be the expiration of their residency visas. These chain arrests come amid increasing forcible expulsions, legal actions, and crackdowns on Afghan refugees and citizens in various cities across Pakistan, drawing strong criticism from human rights organizations.