Under review: Repatriation date a sticking point between Centre, K-P
Federal govt tells provinces not to harass refugees
PHOTO: REUTERS
PESHAWAR:
As the Nov 15 deadline for the repatriation of unregistered Afghan refugees ends, serious differences have emerged between the federal and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governments over the issue.
Earlier, the government had set November 15 as the deadline for unregistered and March 31st for registered Afghan refugees to repatriate to their home country.
However, the federal government in a meeting held on Monday refrained the four federating units from arresting and harassing unregistered Afghan refugees residing in the county till a new policy is finalised.
Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that the meeting, which was held in the Federal Ministry for State and Frontier Regions (Safron) Islamabad, was attended by the parliamentary leaders of political parties, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak.
They said the provinces have been directed by the federal government to not arrest any unregistered Afghan refugees.
“Parliamentary leaders told the meeting [held on Monday] that recommendations have been sent to the prime minister for formulation of a new policy regarding registered and unregistered Afghan refugees.”
The sources quoted the chief minister as saying that “unregistered Afghan refugees doing business in the province have badly affected the business environment in the province and their presence is no more tolerable”.
However, the parliamentary leaders of various political parties supported the proposal to extend their stay till December 2017.
A hand-out issued by the K-P CM office about the meeting stated that the chief minister has expressed dissatisfaction over the stay of unregistered Afghan refugees in the province “that have become a security risk for the entire province, particularly after the Army Public School and Charsadda University attacks”.
“It’s a matter of serious concern that how someone [Afghan refugees] without any registration documents roams across the province,” the chief minister said.
According to the handout, the chief minister asked: “Why is the National Database and Registration Authority not starting a registration drive for unregistered Afghan refugees?”
The chief minister also said that police have been directed not to harass refugees.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2016.
As the Nov 15 deadline for the repatriation of unregistered Afghan refugees ends, serious differences have emerged between the federal and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa governments over the issue.
Earlier, the government had set November 15 as the deadline for unregistered and March 31st for registered Afghan refugees to repatriate to their home country.
However, the federal government in a meeting held on Monday refrained the four federating units from arresting and harassing unregistered Afghan refugees residing in the county till a new policy is finalised.
Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that the meeting, which was held in the Federal Ministry for State and Frontier Regions (Safron) Islamabad, was attended by the parliamentary leaders of political parties, including Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak.
They said the provinces have been directed by the federal government to not arrest any unregistered Afghan refugees.
“Parliamentary leaders told the meeting [held on Monday] that recommendations have been sent to the prime minister for formulation of a new policy regarding registered and unregistered Afghan refugees.”
The sources quoted the chief minister as saying that “unregistered Afghan refugees doing business in the province have badly affected the business environment in the province and their presence is no more tolerable”.
However, the parliamentary leaders of various political parties supported the proposal to extend their stay till December 2017.
A hand-out issued by the K-P CM office about the meeting stated that the chief minister has expressed dissatisfaction over the stay of unregistered Afghan refugees in the province “that have become a security risk for the entire province, particularly after the Army Public School and Charsadda University attacks”.
“It’s a matter of serious concern that how someone [Afghan refugees] without any registration documents roams across the province,” the chief minister said.
According to the handout, the chief minister asked: “Why is the National Database and Registration Authority not starting a registration drive for unregistered Afghan refugees?”
The chief minister also said that police have been directed not to harass refugees.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 15th, 2016.