Farid Saadat, his father, and brother have been running a well-established business, but are likely to see their life’s work reduced to nothing as nobody is willing to pay a fair price for their shops or houses. PHOTO: INP
PESHAWAR: As the drive to send Afghan nationals packing for home intensifies, locals in Peshawar and K-P are more interested in the properties these refugees leave behind. Shops and houses are being sold at throwaway prices, whetting the appetites of those out for a bargain.
Even those who were on great terms with these people from across the border now have an eye on their “abandoned properties”.
In light of the shift in policy, personnel of law-enforcement and secret agencies are busy cracking down on Afghan nationals throughout K-P. “Police personnel at the Shamshato Refugee Camp are arresting and detaining Afghans,” a prominent Afghan national, associated with Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan, told The Express Tribune.
He says Pakistani authorities are even knocking on the doors of those Afghan nationals who have proof of registration cards. “We are being subjected to the worst kind of insults and humiliation.”
The situation is similar in Abbottabad where police reportedly arrested 200 suspects, including 112 Afghan nationals. However, it is not all doom and gloom for the refugees as some of them managed to spend a pleasant Eid holiday in Murree and Galiyat without any trouble. “Neither were we stopped nor did anyone question our cards or visas,” recalls Sar Mualim, an Afghan educationist. “We confirmed our Afghan identity at each and every security point.”
Meanwhile, Afghan nationals and diplomats recall the days of yore when crossing the Pak-Afghan border at Chaman was a matter of routine. After Torkham, Chaman is considered the busiest crossing point between the two countries.
Like locals
Ahad, an Afghan national born in Peshawar, says his family is left with no option but to return. However, they are all worried about their assets and liabilities. The refugee has owned a scrap business in the area for the
last two decades.
He says his parents and elder brother migrated to Pakistan soon after the Soviet invasion in 1979. He and nine other siblings, including five brothers and four sisters, were born in Charkhana, Gulberg in Peshawar.
Farid Saadat, his father, and brother have been running a well-established business, but are likely to see their life’s work reduced to nothing as nobody is willing to pay a fair price for their shops or houses. Gulab Said, who runs a bakery, is worried about matters of even greater concern as his wife belongs to Pakistan. The wife has a valid CNIC and owns inherited property.
Visa complications
Amid the growing tension and hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan, visa facilities have been affected. Earlier, diplomatic missions of both the countries were issuing single entry visas for one month or 15 days and multiple-entry visas from one to six months. Now, Afghan diplomatic missions are issuing visas to Pakistani nationals for one month with single entry. Pakistani missions have also reportedly also reduced the visa time to one month. Such restrictions and complications are fuelling animosity between the neighbouring countries.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 22nd, 2016.
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