ISLAMABAD: Chief of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Tuesday accused the authorities of pressuring Afghan refugees to depart and ‘reported cases’ of property usurpation, urging for a coordinated mechanism to ensure safe return of Afghan refugees to their home country.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the last date for illegal immigrants to leave Pakistan, the JUI-F chief expressed concerns about the treatment of Afghan refugees with legal documents, saying the deportation of Afghan refugees was a bilateral issue that necessitates Islamabad’s engagement with the Afghan government.
He voiced his apprehensions that, under the pretext of addressing illegal immigration, even legally residing Afghans are facing blackmail. He alleged that local authorities and influential figures are involved in the harassment of Afghan refugees who have been living in compliance with the law.
The JUI-F chief emphasised the potential adverse consequences of such actions on Pakistan’s relations with Afghanistan and stressed the importance of bilateral discussions to resolve this matter in a mutually beneficial manner, emphasising the need for cooperation between Pakistan and its neighbouring country.
Pakistan’s decision to remove all illegal Afghan immigrants is part of a broader strategy, considering both security and economic factors. The country’s interior minister disclosed that, this year, 28 suicide attacks occurred in Pakistan, with half of them perpetrated by Afghans who had entered the country illegally.
This campaign against illegal Afghan immigrants also takes place in the context of the strained relationship between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban government, which has shown reluctance in neutralising the threat posed by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Official sources have indicated that certain Western countries have urged Pakistan to reconsider its decision, but Pakistani authorities have affirmed that there will be no change in the established deadline and plan.
