Pressing issues: Unregistered Afghans can stay till Nov 15: K-P CM

Lawmaker seeks Pakistani nationality for refugees

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Paktunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak has said that unregistered Afghan refugees will not be bothered until November 15, while those registered could stay till December.

The chief minister expressed these views while briefing journalists on Tuesday after the K-P government and parliamentary leaders of the provincial assembly held a meeting over the issue of Afghan refugees. “The federal government has given us directions that those Afghan nationals, who are registered, can stay until December. They are our guests and we welcome them,” he said.

Regarding unregistered Afghan refugees, he said the federal government has decided that they will not be disturbed until November 15.

“We have decided today that if an unregistered Afghan national is apprehended in any operation up till November 15, the police will not register an FIR against him or her. If anyone can assure his or her identity, then the police will warn them to register themselves,” he added. Khattak said after November 15, K-P government will act on whatever decision the federal government takes.



For properties

About the properties of Afghan refugees, the chief minister said, “We are getting complaints regarding their properties’ future as people are buying them at throwaway prices. We have to make a plan on streamlining the matter and secure their properties from being auctioned.”

Meanwhile, a committee under the supervision of Rustam Shah Mohmand, a former ambassador to Afghanistan, will be constituted and will submit its recommendations which will be approved from the K-P Assembly and then sent to the federal government.

The chief minister categorically cleared his government’s position over the issue. He said K-P has never tried to put pressure on Afghan refugees to leave the province and move back to their own country.

Increase in influx

He cited three reasons for the increase in influx of Afghan nationals, saying their number have risen over the last three months. “Earlier, the border was not managed properly and they could come and go easily. Now, proper border management has started and they cannot come and go without documents,” he said.

The CM maintained the second reason is the commitment of Afghanistan’s ambassador in Pakistan. The latter assured Khattak in a meeting that he would visit Afghan refugees and ask them to go back to their own country. He said the assistance grant for refugees repatriating to Afghanistan has been increased and this could be a third reason behind the increased influx.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2016.