Eidul fitr: Refugees celebrate Eid with Afghanistan

QUETTA:

While a majority of people in Quetta will celebrate Eidul Fitr on Wednesday (today) after the Central Ruet-e-Hilal Committee’s decision, Afghan refugees residing in camps in different parts of Balochistan celebrated Eid on Tuesday.

Congregations were held at different refugee camps in Qila Abdullah, Pishin and other areas of the province. Eidul Fitr was celebrated in Jangal Pir Alizai, Saranan and Girdi Jangal Afghan refugee camp.

“Regardless of where we are at the moment, we will always celebrate Eid with our people in Afghanistan. We may be living the lives of refugees, but we haven’t forgotten our homeland,” said Mohammad Ali, a refugee at one of the camps.

Last year too, Balochistan celebrated two Eids.

According to sources, over one million Afghan refugees have taken shelter in different parts of Balochistan and a considerable number of them have obtained Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs).

Despite many of these CNICs being blocked by NADRA, scores of Afghan nationals continue to own CNICs and property in Quetta and the Northern areas of Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2011.