K-P govt refuses to extend stay of Afghan refugees
Say resources are too limited to support them
A photo showing Afghan refugees in Pakistan. PHOTO: AFP
PESHAWAR:
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has asked the Centre to repatriate Afghan refugees as its limited resources will not allow them to bear expenses anymore.
“The K-P government is opposing further extension in the stay of Afghan refugees and are insisting upon their early repatriation,” an official of Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune. “But as per the United Nations terms and conditions, no one can forcibly repatriate refugees; UN member countries are bound to honour the requests and proposals of its sister organisation.”
Tripartite meeting: Kabul seeks 2 more years for Afghan refugees in Pakistan
The official added all stakeholders, including officials of Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees through Ministry of States and Frontier Regions, are working on a summary regarding extending the stay of refugees in Pakistan. “A meeting of all stakeholders is to be held under the auspices of SAFRON and UNHCR in a period of around two weeks,” said the official.
Limiting space
However, according to officials of the Commissionerate, the provincial government is not only opposing the extension in the stay of Afghan refugees, but has also directed law-enforcement agencies to harass Afghan nations. An official in the K-P Home and Tribal affairs department confirmed crackdowns have been taking place, but against those Afghan refugees who do not possess a Proof of Registration (PoR) and other valid travelling documents like a passport with a visa.
“Afghan nationals who have a PoR are respected,” said an official of the home department. All Afghan nationals who do not have the required documents are being arrested and deported after a trial under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act. The K-P government believes that as international communities have ended their support for Afghan refugees, problems for their civil and law-enforcement agencies have multiplied. The provincial government informed officials in K-P Home and Tribal Affairs department through a letter that Afghan refugees would be sent back to their country, as per the National Action Plan.
The impact of Afghan refugees
As per an agreement signed between the Pakistan and Afghanistan governments, United Nations High Commission for Refugees has said refugees would be repatriated by December 31.
Data from the prisons department shows Central Prison Peshawar has 153 Afghan refugees as of Friday. Of them, 48 are under trial whereas around 100 of have been charged under the foreigners act.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2015.
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has asked the Centre to repatriate Afghan refugees as its limited resources will not allow them to bear expenses anymore.
“The K-P government is opposing further extension in the stay of Afghan refugees and are insisting upon their early repatriation,” an official of Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees, requesting anonymity, told The Express Tribune. “But as per the United Nations terms and conditions, no one can forcibly repatriate refugees; UN member countries are bound to honour the requests and proposals of its sister organisation.”
Tripartite meeting: Kabul seeks 2 more years for Afghan refugees in Pakistan
The official added all stakeholders, including officials of Commissionerate for Afghan Refugees through Ministry of States and Frontier Regions, are working on a summary regarding extending the stay of refugees in Pakistan. “A meeting of all stakeholders is to be held under the auspices of SAFRON and UNHCR in a period of around two weeks,” said the official.
Limiting space
However, according to officials of the Commissionerate, the provincial government is not only opposing the extension in the stay of Afghan refugees, but has also directed law-enforcement agencies to harass Afghan nations. An official in the K-P Home and Tribal affairs department confirmed crackdowns have been taking place, but against those Afghan refugees who do not possess a Proof of Registration (PoR) and other valid travelling documents like a passport with a visa.
“Afghan nationals who have a PoR are respected,” said an official of the home department. All Afghan nationals who do not have the required documents are being arrested and deported after a trial under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act. The K-P government believes that as international communities have ended their support for Afghan refugees, problems for their civil and law-enforcement agencies have multiplied. The provincial government informed officials in K-P Home and Tribal Affairs department through a letter that Afghan refugees would be sent back to their country, as per the National Action Plan.
The impact of Afghan refugees
As per an agreement signed between the Pakistan and Afghanistan governments, United Nations High Commission for Refugees has said refugees would be repatriated by December 31.
Data from the prisons department shows Central Prison Peshawar has 153 Afghan refugees as of Friday. Of them, 48 are under trial whereas around 100 of have been charged under the foreigners act.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 14th, 2015.