Pakistani Police Detain Afghan Doctor and 10 Medical Students in Punjab Over Visa Issues
Punjab police in Pakistan arrested an Afghan doctor and at least ten Afghan students on Monday who were undergoing specialized medical training at universities and teaching hospitals in the province. According to reports, the detentions were due to the expiry of the individuals’ visas, although Pakistani officials have not provided an official explanation on the matter.
Sources reveal that ten of those arrested were completing their specialization at Quaid-e-Azam Medical University and Bahawalpur Teaching Hospital and were detained within the same area. Additionally, Norullah, an Afghan doctor, was taken into custody by police from an operating room at Sahiwal Teaching Hospital in southeastern Punjab.
Lists, photographs, and videos related to the arrests have been shared with the media. The detained students insist that they entered Pakistan legally through Punjab’s official medical assistantship program and submitted all necessary documents for visa renewal. However, despite months passing, their visas have not been renewed.
They stated that police only said they were acting on orders from senior officials during the arrests. This follows Pakistan’s Interior Ministry directive on June 28 instructing provincial authorities to detain Afghan nationals without valid residency documents or with expired visas starting from July 10.
The students said that for about six months, amid deteriorating relations between Pakistan and the Taliban administration, visa renewals have faced difficulties, and pressure on them has increased. They warned that the interruption of their medical specialization courses seriously threatens their professional futures.
The arrests come as the Taliban administration has repeatedly emphasized support for Afghans living abroad, yet ongoing visa problems and detentions indicate that effective practical measures to resolve these challenges have not been implemented. The students have urged the Taliban administration to engage in dialogue with Pakistani officials to facilitate the continuation of their studies and lawful visa renewals.
