'No restriction on movement of Afghan refugees'

Despite financial constraints K-P was bearing 60 per cent Afghan refugees: spokesperson to K-P govt Ajmal Khan Wazir

PESHAWAR: Work on a comprehensive policy about Afghan refugees is under process as per the directives of Prime Minister Imran Khan, said the spokesperson to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government Ajmal Khan Wazir on Tuesday.

There is no sanction on movement of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, however the criminal elements would be dealt with iron hands, he said at a dialogue arranged here by Society for Human Rights and Prisoners (SHARP) on citizenship for Afghan children.

Wazir said that Pakistan has been hosting Afghan refugees on its soil with open heart for the last 40 years. Despite financial constraints K-P was bearing the burden of 60 per cent Afghan refugees.

He said: “our schools, colleges, universities and hospitals are open to facilitate the refugees without any restriction and discrimination.” Pakistan is looking after millions of the Afghans on humanitarian ground despite limited resources, he added.

The K-P government spokesman said that now it is responsibility of international community to repatriate the refugees and their rehabilitation in Afghanistan.

He said the suggestions and recommendations came forward from such dialogue and consultation meetings would be made part of the refugees' policy.

He said the present government was true representative ofpeople of Pakistan and took into consideration the public opinion in policymaking. Prominent among the speakers were Senator Maulana Rahat Hussain, former Senator Afrasiyab Khattak, Farhatullah Babar, MPA Samar Bilour, Afghan Refugees Commissioner Abbas Khan, former district nazim Mardan Himaytullah Miyar and SHARP CEO Liaquat Binori Advocate.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 12^th, 2018.