Afghan nationals will need NOC to stay in Islamabad after Dec 31

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Wednesday that Afghan nationals would not be allowed to stay in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) without having proper permission from authorities after December 31, 2024.

Speaking to the media, Naqvi emphasised that this step aims to ensure proper regulation and verification of Afghan residents in the federal capital.

Naqvi dismissed allegations of deaths during recent PTI protests, stating that no law enforcement personnel were armed with pistols. 

He challenged protest organisers to present evidence of casualties, asserting that tear gas was used to control the situation, not firearms.

Islamabad Chief Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa and IGP Ali Nasir Rizvi confirmed that law and order have been restored in the city, with all major routes reopened. 

They revealed that Afghan nationals were among the protesters, even as a Belarusian delegation visited Pakistan.

Authorities reported significant damage during the protests, including vandalised metro stations, destroyed CCTV cameras, and burnt green belts. 

Over 200 vehicles were impounded, and various weapons were recovered. Officials warned that terrorism disguised as protest would not be tolerated, and strict action would continue to ensure peace.