Afghan refugees need to be repatriated: Dr Malik

Ex-CM says presence of Afghan refugees adversely affecting province

QUETTA: Former Balochistan chief minister and National Party President Dr Abdul Malik Baloch said on Wednesday that Afghan refugees living in the country should be repatriated now with the law and order situation gradually improving in neighbouring Afghanistan.

“The presence of such a large number of Afghan refugees in Balochistan is politically, economically and administratively affecting our province,” he told reporters in Kuchlak.

“We have been showing our hospitality to Afghan refugees for the last three decades.”

The former chief minister said the law and order situation in Afghanistan had a direct impact on Pakistan, especially on Balochistan.



“We have always supported any effort that would help restore peace in Afghanistan.”

Speaking about rumours of plans to roll back the 18th Constitutional Amendment, the National Party president said his party would oppose the move.

“It’s only the 18th Amendment that is ensuring the due rights of smaller provinces,” he maintained.

Dr Malik said the country was engulfed in an economic crisis for the past one year and the federal and provincial governments were not showing a pro-development approach.

“The people of Balochistan had expressed their confidence in the previous government because of our effective law and order and governance policies,” he added.

“The previous government not only rid the province’s highways of crime but also revamped the healthcare and education infrastructure.”