PESHAWAR – Authorities in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) have launched a major crackdown on Afghans serving as prayer leaders on charges of provoking people against Pakistani and US governments in their sermons.
"There are certain reports regarding their involvement in different subversive activities, including provocation," NWFP police chief Malik Naveed Khan told IslamOnline.net.
"That is why this action is being taken against them."
The local authorities decided to deport some 400 Afghans serving as prayer leaders in the NWFP province and the adjoining tribal areas.
Police confirmed having arrested 43 of them from Peshawar, Swat, Mardan, Boner and Noshehra districts.
They will soon be deported to Afghanistan on charges of violating immigration laws.
"They cannot work in Pakistan until and unless they have work visa," Naveed said.
"We are registering them so that we know about their status. Anyone found violating laws in this regard, will be deported," he added.
"We encourage the locals to hire a prayer leader amongst them. Why are they hiring a foreign national when a local one is available? He could be a security risk."
Maulvi Noor Mohammad, who has been serving as a prayer leader in a mosque in Mardan, located some 40 kilometers from Peshawar, is facing an imminent deportation.
Authorities told him his case is being evaluated by immigration officials for violating immigration rules.
"They have stopped me from serving as Pesh Imam (prayer leader) because I have refugee status," he told IOL.
"They have told me that I have violated the immigration rules and should get ready for deportation.
"I had been serving as Pesh Imam for the last 15 years, but authorities never cared about immigration laws."
Pakistan has been hosting over 2 million Afghan refugees since 1979 following the defunct USSR invasion of Afghanistan.
"There are certain reports regarding their involvement in different subversive activities, including provocation," NWFP police chief Malik Naveed Khan told IslamOnline.net.
"That is why this action is being taken against them."
The local authorities decided to deport some 400 Afghans serving as prayer leaders in the NWFP province and the adjoining tribal areas.
Police confirmed having arrested 43 of them from Peshawar, Swat, Mardan, Boner and Noshehra districts.
They will soon be deported to Afghanistan on charges of violating immigration laws.
"They cannot work in Pakistan until and unless they have work visa," Naveed said.
"We are registering them so that we know about their status. Anyone found violating laws in this regard, will be deported," he added.
"We encourage the locals to hire a prayer leader amongst them. Why are they hiring a foreign national when a local one is available? He could be a security risk."
Maulvi Noor Mohammad, who has been serving as a prayer leader in a mosque in Mardan, located some 40 kilometers from Peshawar, is facing an imminent deportation.
Authorities told him his case is being evaluated by immigration officials for violating immigration rules.
"They have stopped me from serving as Pesh Imam (prayer leader) because I have refugee status," he told IOL.
"They have told me that I have violated the immigration rules and should get ready for deportation.
"I had been serving as Pesh Imam for the last 15 years, but authorities never cared about immigration laws."
Pakistan has been hosting over 2 million Afghan refugees since 1979 following the defunct USSR invasion of Afghanistan.
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