National policy: Fate of registered Afghan refugees hangs in balance

Govt has not yet decided to extend period or deport them from country

PESHAWAR: Ministry of States and Frontier Regions and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) requested interior ministry, chief secretaries and provincial governments to ensure registered Afghan refugees are not harassed or victimised till the National Policy on Afghan Refugees is finalised.

Insiders familiar with the matter told The Express Tribune the last date to send 1.5 million Afghan refugees back to their country was December 31, 2015, but the government has not yet decided to extend the period or deport them from the country.

In August 2015, the Afghan government had requested the relevant authorities in Pakistan to allow nearly 1.5 million registered Afghan refugees to stay in Pakistan for another two years, but the government has not yet announced an extension on their stay.

Meanwhile, Afghan refugees in Peshawar claim police harass Afghan nationals in the city. During the president’s visit to Peshawar on December 30, 2015, a large number of refugees were arrested by city police and banned from travelling.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sabir Jan, an Afghan refugee who lives on University Road, said their movements have been limited to their houses and they cannot go out for work.

“Our proof of registration (PoR) cards have expired and we fear that police will arrest us,” he said.

According to Jan, police harass them and demand bribes in case of an arrest. He urged the federal and provincial governments to extend the time limit of their cards and direct the police to refrain from harassing them.

A letter issued by the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions to interior ministry and all provincial governments, stated that PoR cards had expired on December 31, 2015, and the government is in the process of finalising the national policy on management and repatriation of Afghan refugees. The decision will be communicated to all stakeholders in due course of time.

However, Sajjad Khan, a spokesperson for Peshawar DC’s office, said so far they have not received any instructions related to Afghan refugees. He denied the arrest or harassment of Afghan refugees, saying all decisions regarding them will be taken by the federal government.

UNHCR Spokesperson Qaiser Khan Afridi said they are waiting for the cabinet meeting’s decision regarding extension in PoR cards.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2016.