Pakistan government has cancelled about 200,000 computerised national identity cards (CNICs) that were falsely maintained by Afghanistan refugees, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Saturday, reported PTI.

“We have data of 1.5 million Afghan refugees having legal status and about 800,000 Afghans living in the country illegally,” Ahmed said while speaking to media.

The minister added that the government is tackling the corruption in the issuance of visas and providing online visa facility to citizens of 192 countries.

“To eliminate the chances of corruption, we have launched online visa service as there are chances of corruption in manual processing of visas,” he said.

Ahmed added that people targeting Pakistan military were doing so at the behest of foreign countries and action would be taken “within 72 hours” against those making “anti-army” remarks.

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) – an alliance of 11 Opposition parties – has been formed against the Pakistan Army’s interference in politics and installing “puppet” Prime Minister Imran Khan through a manipulated election.

Ahmed, who took charge as interior minister last month, said unnecessary checkposts were being abolished in the capital and a new police force, Eagle Squad, equipped with latest technology would be raised soon to provide security in Islamabad.

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

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