Ease of passage: Afghan govt urged to help returning refugees

Hayatullah says Afghan leaders should contribute in rehabilitation of poor refugees

PESHAWAR: A socio-politico leader from Afghanistan, Haji Hayatullah, has urged Afghan President Dr Ashraf Ghani and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) to help Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan.

While speaking to The Express Tribune on Tuesday, he said, “All those possessing proof of registration migrated to Pakistan due to unrest and crises in their motherland. Therefore, they deserve refugee status.”

Hayatullah served as Shura-i-Tafahum (Council for Understanding and National Unity), a body established by peace loving and democratic minded Afghan nationals in the 1990s when the country was governed by the Taliban. He is also part of a 10-member committee recently established by Pakistan-based Afghans.

He said all Afghan nationals are troubled by the lack of proper accommodation and other facilities in Afghanistan.

He maintained the responsibility rests with Ghani’s government to ensure provision of accommodation and other facilities to these nationals. Similarly, he urged Afghan leaders to contribute to repatriation and rehabilitation of refugees.

The Afghan elder was also critical about UNHCR policies on repatriation. He said a large number of Afghan nationals failed to get proof of registration cards from NADRA due to the lack
of time.

Similarly, Hayatullah pointed out that thousands of families were residing in Pakistan for the last four decades and they had purchased properties and businesses. He said the Pakistan government should announce a policy enabling Afghan nationals to keep these properties.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 24^th, 2016.