Pakistan

Influx of Afghans in Balochistan resented

Balochistan govt asks authorities concerned to take steps to prevent massive illegal immigration.

Shezad Baloch November 23, 2010

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has expressed serious concern over the influx of immigrants from Afghanistan, asking the authorities concerned to take steps to prevent this massive illegal immigration.

This comes following initial inquiry into a suicide attack on an Al Quds rally in Quetta. At least 73 people were killed and dozens more injured when a suicide bomber targeted the Al Quds rally at Mezan Chowk on November 3 followed by firing on the panicked participants.

“More than half of the victims of the suicide and gun attack were not Pakistanis. They even couldn’t speak Urdu,” a senior official at the Balochistan home department told The Express Tribune. “This shows people from Afghanistan and Uzbekistan are migrating to Quetta at an alarming scale without following the legal procedure,” he added.

“They are using unchartered and unmanned routes to enter Quetta. Some are using the Iranian route to enter Quetta.”

He said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and border guards had been asked to keep a check on illegal crossings from Afghanistan

Responding to a question, the official said local people were also involved in the influx of illegal immigrants from Afghanistan. “The Hazara community people who are migrating to other countries and cities are selling their lands to illegal immigrants and traders who are coming from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan,” he added. “Action will be taken against such people.”

A large number of Afghan refugees in Balochistan have got Pakistani national identity cards by bribing NADRA officials.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 23^rd, 2010.

COMMENTS (9)

Maria | 14 years ago | Reply It's high time to send the Afghani refugees and other foreigners back to their own homes. Pakistan should not be the dumping ground for our poorer neighbours. We have suffered enough from these people who often are involved in much of the crimes there. It's a shame that some people in Pakistan even tolerate the presence of so many illegal foreigners. As for the pittance that we supposedly get for housing foreigners, let's use the money to make a big fence to keep them out like the Americans are doing to keep out illegal Mexicans from the US. The few millions of aid is paltry compared to the headache caused by the destabilizing influence of foreigners in the nation.

noise | 14 years ago | Reply This senior official of the Balochistan home department seems totally oblivious of the fact that there is a Hazara community of afghan origin in Quetta, that has been there for centuries. Instead he speculates about them being "Afghans" or Uzbeks (probably because Uzbekistan the only other central asian nation he knows of). As for people not being able to speak urdu in Pakistan, I suggest he travel through rural Baluchistan a little more.

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Sheheryar Khan | 14 years ago | Reply The main issue in Balochistan is the religious extremism (Sipah Sahaba and other Wahabi factors). Almost all the members of these extremist are from Baloch community. Currently, in Balochistan, these extremists are targeting Hazara community and other Shia factors like Kandahari and Punjabi etc. The record and the history of these extremist, show that they also target the Barelvis (mosques and shrines all over the country), even those who do not fit in the format of their mentalities. They don’t forgive any one and I am sure that one day these extremist will be a big danger for the whole Baloch community and will specially target the Baloch nationalist in the future.

Aftab | 14 years ago | Reply The portion of the news regarding the suicide attackers might be right, you may blame your religious leaders or the so called Quami leaders who are getting chubbier due to the human and drugs smuggling either from Afghanistan or x y z. But as far as the victims of these attacks ( Hazaras) are concerned, no one can blame their identity and their patriotism. Hazaras are the recognized and respected citizens of Pakistan, and that is of course not by granted, it is earned by honesty, Hard work, and sacrifices. throughout the short history of Pakistan an impartial observer can not exclude the sacrifices of this proud nation. I am pretty sure these kind of statements don't come from a normal Balochistani , it is all generated to create hatred among the peaceful Balochistanis who have been living in peace for more then a century and Inshallah they will recognize the masked faces.

Ahemd Khan | 14 years ago | Reply What percentage of Baloch, Pashtoon, Panjabi and Sindhi are able to speak URDU. Is this the only parameter of nationality. Its pathatic that Balochistan government is able to focus on the nationality of those who lost their lives in the act terrorism but fails to show sympathy with them and has always failed to bring the culprits into justice. By distracting the media and general people towards the ethenicity and refugee issue Balochistan government melaciously trying to poison the minds of the people. Quetta city was renowned in the past for its people's moral and social attitude showing brotherhood regardless of their ethnic background. We can confidently say that Government of Balochistan is responsible for all the destructions the province is facing these days. Other ethencities living in the city will soon realise that this TERORRISM will not stick to the Hazara minority but its fire will soon reach their very own homes as we have witnessed in Khaber Pakhtoonkhwa. Hope we will stand up and try to prevent this from happening. Regards, Ahmed Khan

User | 14 years ago | Reply y u baloch kill hazara ppl for .

A.S Baloch | 14 years ago | Reply I do agree with your report but it will be worth mentioning so say that half of the victims were from Afghan province Bamian (Hazarajat) and they come through Chaman border while paying to our institutions and live with the community. They have money to buy and land or even half of the Quetta business belongs to them. I would like your newspaper to have in dept survey of all foreigners having property in Balochistan and let my government know that truth behind uncertainty, joblessness and crimes.

Sabir H | 14 years ago | Reply The situation is worst for Hazara community, Because from every corner they are being targeted from one side the ban Lashkar-e-Janguvei target them & secondly few element in Quetta, don't want to see Quetta peaceful. Second about the Uzbekistan and Afghanistan people who had got National Idientity Card from NADRA, than Government of Pakistan and Balochistan must take some serious action against them. The custom and border authorities should not allow any illegal immigrant to Pakistan. I think the government is not interested to protect the properity and lives of their civilian, which is allowed by the Constitution of Pakistan.

Zia Ur Rehman | 14 years ago | Reply Pakistan is receiving huge money from UNHCR and US government in the names of the refugees but doing nothing for their social welfare and rehabilitation. Pakistan, Afghanistan and UNHCR signed an agreement to extend the stay of Afghan refugees until the end of 2010 and according to UN law, no body can forcibly expel the refugees. According to the state department’s press release, the Obama Administration has pledged an additional $1 million to rehabilitate areas of Pakistan that are hosting or have been affected by Afghan refugees. The contribution comes in addition to $75 million in other U.S. assistance for Afghan refugees in 2010, including those who are remaining in Pakistan and Iran as well as refugees returning to Afghanistan. I think the Balochsitan government is reluctant to call Taliban or Quetta Shura who are making law and order situation worst day by day but alleging the victims of conflict recognised by the global community. Even they open deny the presence of Taliban in Baluchistan fearing the extension of Drone attacks in the province the US administration requested to the federal government.

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