Pakistan cancels 200,000 fake citizen ID cards held by Afghan refugees

Pakistan has cancelled about 200,000 computerised national identity cards (CNICs) fraudulently held by Afghanistan refugees.

Speaking to reporters in his home town Rawalpindi on Saturday, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said: "We have data of 1.5 million Afghan refugees having legal status and about 800,000 Afghans living in country illegally." He said corruption in issuance of visas was being tackled and government was providing online visa facility to citizens of 192 countries.

"To eliminate chances of corruption, we have launched online visa service as re are chances of corruption in manual processing of visas," he said, ding that over 200,000 visa applications were received for online visas in a single day.

Meanwhile, Rashid said persons targeting armed forces were doing so at behest of foreign countries and action would be taken "within 72 hours" against those making "anti-army" remarks.

"We would defeat such disinformation against our country and state institutions," he said.

Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) - an alliance of 11 Opposition parties - has been formed against Pakistan Army's interference in politics and installing "puppet" Prime Minister Imran Khan through a manipulated election.

Alrey, a case was being registered against Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam Fazl leer Mufti Kifayatullah over his remarks on army, he said.

Rashid, who took charge as interior minister last month, said unnecessary checkposts were being abolished in capital and a new police force, Eagle Squ, equipped with latest techlogy would be raised soon to provide security in Islamab.

He also said five police officials involved in killing of a 22-year-old student this week in Islamab were arrested.

killing shocked people as youth was targeted when he failed to stop car when signaled by police.