Probe ordered into Afghan mission’s complaints

Development comes after meeting between ministry, Afghan officials

RAWALPINDI:

The Ministry of Interior has ordered an investigation into the allegations of harassment and unjust behaviour of the police towards the legally residing Afghans and businessmen levelled by the Afghan embassy officials during a recent meeting.

According to sources, the Afghan embassy officials, during the meeting, apprised the relevant authorities that during the repatriation of illegally residing Afghan nationals to their home country, the police resorted to harassing the legally resident Afghans and businessmen and declaring the brutal murder of an Afghan child, who was collecting money during a wedding, as qatl-bis-sabab instead of declaring it as qatl-e-amad.

According to the details, the ministry’s Foreign Security Cell has sent a letter titled “Meeting with Afghan Embassy Officials” to the Punjab Additional Chief Secretary and IGP Dr Usman Anwar, saying a meeting took place between the officials of the interior ministry and the Afghan embassy in Fata House, Islamabad regarding various issues being faced during the process of repatriation of illegal Afghans.

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It said, during the meeting, the embassy officials pointed out that two legally residing Afghan nationals, Yasin and Muhammad Ali, who hold POR (Proof of Registration for Afghan Refugees), were harassed by Hameed, a police officer posted at the Civil Lines police station in Rawalpindi, who threatened and demanded money from them in the Marrir Hassan area.

Similarly, the Afghan embassy officials pointed out that POR card holder Afghan child Abdul Rahman was collecting money from the ground at a wedding ceremony in Lala Musa, Gujarat, during which he was tortured and killed by several people but the police instead of registering a case under section 302 [qatl-e-amad], registered it under section 322 [qatl-bis-sabab] and the accused were let out scot-free.

Further, the officials of the Afghan embassy told the officials of the Ministry of Interior that Abdul Rauf Afzal, SHO of Wahdat Town police station, Lahore, harassed an Afghan businessman at Zamzam Tower, Ferozepur Road, Muslim Town, Lahore, and this was the third consecutive move by the SHO Wahdat Town to harass Afghans.

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Before that, on November 30, the said SHO took the Afghans to the police station, where they saved their lives by giving Rs15,000 to the police.

Condemning all such actions, the officials of the interior ministry have conveyed to the Punjab additional chief secretary and the IGP that the interior secretary has expressed deep regret on all matters. “Therefore, all these cases should be investigated immediately and strict disciplinary action should be taken against those responsible and a detailed report should be sent to the ministry,” the letter said.

It added that a complete and comprehensive report regarding the case of the alleged death of an Afghan child due to violence should also be sent to the Ministry of Interior.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2023.