Pakistan, Oct. 16 -- Police on Wednesday launched an operation to demolish hundreds of houses vacated by Afghans in Karachi's Afghan Camp in the Sohrab Goth area to prevent "illegal occupation by rogue elements," officials said.

The land belongs to the Malir Development Authority (MDA). It comprises 3,117 houses, including those of 200 to 250 Pakistani families. Around 15,680 Afghan nationals were previously residing in the camp. Of them, 14,296 have returned to Afghanistan, while the remaining 1,384 are still living there and are being repatriated in phases.

West Zone Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Irfan Ali Baloch told, "The government-owned land was spread over 200 acres, with 3,000 houses built to accommodate Afghans."

DIG Baloch f...