Tarqi Saeed
Tightening the noose around lacs of Afghan refugees illegally residing in the provincial capital and parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and yet to leave for their homeland despite the expiry of the final deadline for the repatriation, the provincial government is set to come really hard on them.
It was learnt that the district administrations have been tasked to initiate crackdown on all those Refugees who are not still residing across the province but also running huge businesses including transport, leather products, eateries and even currency shops.
Not only the plazas and shops run by the refugees are going to be sealed but strict action is being initiated against those renting out their houses to refugees. The security sources told Observer they apprehend that among those Afghan Refugees still residing in different districts, may be the facilitators of the terrorists carrying out subversive acts against the civilians as well as the Security Forces.
In line with the Federal Government Policy to come hard on the Afghan refugees still residing in Pakistan the authorities, it may be recalled, had notified immediate closure of all camps of Afghan refugees across the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in October last. A large number of Afghan Refugees camps were established in KP to accommodate the highest number of Afghan Refugees who migrated to Pakistan after the Russian invasion of their country.
While the number of Refugees housed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had crossed even 3 million at one time, the largest Afghan Refugees camps were established in Kaccha Ghari and the Jalozai in the outskirts of the provincial metropolis. Both the camps were closed years back after the establishment of Taliban Government in Kabul. However, a number of camps continued to exist in DI Khan, Malakand and Hazara divisions. The refugee camps were shut down in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank, Lakki Marwat, Bannu and Mansehra. Afghan refugee camps in Charsadda and Malakand have also been closed.
The government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it may be recalled had facilitated the voluntary departure of illegal foreigners a few months back and those who were willingly to leave Pakistan were provided full facilitation including financial support, transportation and easy access to the border.
Sources said the provincial government has now chalked out an effective strategy to deal with the expatriates and is likely to seal all business houses being run by the Afghan refugees or in partnership with them besides taking strong action against all those who have rented out their houses to the Refugees.
It is said about 100 thousand plazas, business houses and residential buildings are likely to face closure and legal action in Peshawar and other districts following the administration receiving over five lacs complaints in this regard. The business houses being run by the Afghan Refugees and houses they are residing in, have been identified in Khyber Bazaar, Namak Mandi, Plastic Market, Peshawar Board, Nasir Bagh, Hayatabad, Ring Road, and Chowk Yadgar, Sethi town, Zargarabad and Yaktoot areas.
Besides, details have also been sought about the Refugees holding Pakistani ID Cards and those marrying to Pakistan Citizens.
A few weeks back the Government has also initiated strong action against the private schools in Peshawar admitting the Afghan students in their institutions at the advent of the new academic year. The law enforcement agencies have sought details about all those institutions who have granted admissions to Afghan children in various categories and are about to crack down on more than 500 hundred private schools in various parts of the city. These institutions will not only face closure but their registrations and affiliations with the educational boards will also be revoked.
