Out on their ear : Property owners asked to expel Afghans

Cantonment officials cite security concerns, say tenants must be asked to leave.

PESHAWAR: The Cantonment administration of Peshawar has directed owners of shops and houses to expel unregistered Afghan tenants and employees from their properties as law-enforcement agencies fear their stay is a threat to the lives and property of locals.

In a notification issued by the cantonment executive officer, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, concerns were expressed over the presence of Afghan tenants, who are living in rented houses and working in various shops. It ordered that the data of those expelled should be provided to the respective police stations and the office of the CEO.

Evacuation ordered

“It cannot be overemphasised that since the early 1980s and at the start of the unrest in Afghanistan, the influx/penetration/settlement [of refugees] has adversely affected the socioeconomic fabric of those cities/societies and the security paradigm of the country as a whole, [and] the province of K-P, the city of Peshawar, in particular,” the notification read.

It added numerous terrorist attacks have taken place in various localities, even of the cantonment, over the last few years.

“The role of Afghans in such incidents is most often found to be of either [that of] perpetrators or abettors.”

The notification warned owners of properties would be treated as facilitators of “terrorists” if any Afghan refugee is found in their houses or as employees in their shops. It continued that strict legal action would be taken against the property owners.

Traders pleased

Traders’ union of Peshawar Cantonment welcomed the move to expel illegal Afghan refugees from these properties. Cantonment Traders Union Central President Mujeebur Rehman told The Express Tribune the Cantt area was sensitive in nature and therefore the traders’ union supported the move.

He requested a survey of illegal Afghans under the supervision of security forces. “[Illegal Afghan tenants] may be expelled after a survey is conducted by security forces which should supervise their removal.”

Here since

According to United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Pakistan hosts the largest number of refugees – approximately 1.5 million Afghans and 7,000 asylum seekers, also mostly Afghans.

Most Afghan refugees fled their country during the war with Soviet Union in the early 1980s and set up businesses in Peshawar. Most of their children have never even seen their native country. Many have set up their businesses in Peshawar and also work at shops and garments outlets or waiters at restaurants.

The National Action Plan (NAP), launched after the Army Public School massacre to combat militancy, included repatriation of Afghan refugees.

The government is also conducting crackdowns against those residing in parts of the province without registration papers. Afghans who possess legal documents have been asked to leave the country by the end of 2016.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 9^th, 2016.