Chairman Khushhal Khan Kakhar Condemns Forced Expulsion of Afghan Refugees and Calls for Unity Among Pashtun Parties

In a powerful address at a public gathering in the Shahi Lindi Kakhar Khurasan Mirzai area of Quetta, Khushhal Khan Kakhar, Chairman of the Pashtoonkhwa National Awami Party, condemned the illegal and inhumane treatment of Afghan refugees by the Pakistani government. He highlighted the ongoing forced expulsions of Afghan refugees, in violation of international laws, particularly the United Nations’ Geneva Convention on Refugees.

Khushhal Khan Kakhar emphasized that the expulsion of Afghan refugees, who have lived in Pakistan for decades, is not only an unlawful act but also a violation of human rights. He criticized the Pakistani government’s discriminatory policies, particularly targeting Pashtun and Baloch communities, and expressed his outrage over the government’s use of police and other institutions as a source of income through extortion from Afghan refugees.

Speaking at the gathering, he said, “The killing and forced removal of innocent Afghan refugees is a violation of humanity’s core values. These people have lived here for decades, and now the government is pushing them out without regard for international human rights law.”

Khushhal Khan also pointed out the stark contrast between the development in Punjab and the underdevelopment in Pashtun and Afghan areas. He criticized the government’s neglect of the Pashtun Afghan population, stating that while Punjab thrives with modern infrastructure, resources, and opportunities, the Pashtun Afghan community is suffering from poverty and ignorance.

He called upon all political parties and organizations in Pashtun areas, including the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Awami National Party, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party, National Democratic Movement, Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, and all religious, political, and social groups, to unite against the injustice faced by the Afghan refugee community. He urged the government to halt the ongoing crackdown on Afghan refugees and honor their legal rights under the 1951 and 1952 Citizenship Acts, which grant citizenship to anyone born in the country.

Additionally, Khushhal Khan raised concerns about the exploitation of Pashtun traders by various departments, including customs, who extort money through bribes, even after traders pay taxes. He shared the example of a Pashtun trader whose goods, worth billions of rupees, have been stuck at Karachi Fort for an extended period, despite tax payment. He highlighted how this situation reflects the systemic marginalization of Pashtun people in Pakistan.

Khushhal Khan Kakhar concluded by stressing that the Pashtun people will continue to struggle for their rights and will not shy away from making sacrifices in their fight for justice and equality.