Falak Sher
MARDAN
Leaders of Afghan refugees living in Mardan district have said that they did not come to Pakistan for any business or any purpose but were forced to migrate from Afghanistan. Our third generation is growing up here.
The government’s decision to deport Afghans in such a hurry is nothing short of cruelty. Addressing to a news conference at Mardan press club Noor Ahmad Din Patyar, a resident of Jalala Afghan Refugee Camp, Badam Gul, Haji Zar Khan Haji Sardar and Haji Malik Saleem and other Afghan local leaders said that the Pakistani government and people have always respected and honored Afghan refugees and we are grateful to the Pakistani government and nation for this goodwill gesture.
However, the government’s decision to deport Afghan refugees who had ICC cards till March 31 is inhumane.
They added that our lives, relationships, livelihoods and generations have all become intertwined here and the decision to return in such a hurry is causing us agony.
They said that the world knows that after the Russian invasion, different governments have changed in Afghanistan till date, but internal stability could never be established.
They said that the Afghan refugees living here have never interfered in domestic and political affairs, have been earning their livelihood through their hard work and have always been loyal to Pakistan.
They argued that till date, no such incident has taken place in which registered Afghan refugees have been found involved. They added that there are 800,000 registered POR and 500,000 ICC Afghan refugees living in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, but the number is more than that.
Considering the economic difficulties of Pakistan, the international community should provide cooperation regarding Afghan refugees and demanded from the government of Pakistan that they have no objection to illegal refugees, but refugees holding ICC cards should be given more time on the basis of human rights.
They also appreciated the decision of Islamabad High Court (IHC) in connection with registered Afghans and appreciated the decision of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur in this connection.
