Pashtun Leaders Demand Halt to Forced Deportation of Afghan Refugees and Call for Political Reforms

Quetta:Leaders of the Pashtun Milli Pal political parties, including Nasrullah Khan Zaire, Asghar Khan Achakzai, Ahmad Jan Khan, Rashid Nasir, Abdul Majid Kakar, and Noor Bacha Khan, have called for an end to the forced deportation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. They emphasized that Afghan refugees are protected under the Citizen Act and should be treated in accordance with international laws.

The leaders expressed their views during a joint press conference at the Quetta Press Club on Tuesday. Other political figures, including Isa Khan Roshan, Khalil Agha, Zubair Shah, Nida Singer, and Jamaluddin Rishtia, were also present at the conference.

The leaders stated that the parties within Pashtun Milli Pal had launched a movement against terrorism and the financial crisis, and recently held a meeting at the Arbab House to address the issue of the forced deportation of Afghan refugees. They pointed out that the third generation of Afghan refugees has grown up in Pakistan, and the forced deportation of those who were once considered freedom fighters is unjust.

They highlighted that both the Federal Shariah Court and the Peshawar High Court had already ruled in favor of the Afghan people. The leaders called for the immediate cessation of the ongoing crackdown. They criticized the government’s actions and stated that terrorism in Pashtun areas is rampant, with an increasing presence of criminals on major roads. They rejected the accusation that Afghan people are responsible for Pakistan’s resource crisis.

Further, they demanded the release of political leaders, including Ali Wazir, and the removal of names of Pashtun leaders from the Fourth Schedule. They also called for the recovery of all missing persons and the fulfillment of demands by the Baloch Unity Committee and Lok Pas Dahrne. The leaders condemned the trade restrictions on the Pak-Afghan border and demanded that the Hernai-Sanjavi Road be reopened for traffic.

The leaders also expressed concerns about the merger of the Balochistan Constabulary with the Frontier Corps (FC), calling it an unconstitutional act and a violation of the 18th Amendment. They stated that they would not accept the merging of provincial forces into federal ones. To address the ongoing issues, they have set up a five-member committee that will coordinate with political parties and develop a future course of action.

In response to questions, they stated that Afghan refugees in Pakistan, who were brought into the country with the approval of the Pakistani government, are entitled to protection under international laws. They condemned the violence against those protesting in support of Afghan refugees, which resulted in 15 injuries. The leaders criticized the misuse of the 3 MPO law against political opponents and demanded the end of the violent crackdown on political activists.

The leaders concluded by emphasizing the importance of recognizing the equal rights of all regions and communities in Pakistan, asserting that the unjust treatment of Afghan refugees and the political crackdown on Pashtun and Baloch areas must end. They affirmed that movements for people’s rights will continue, and the current oppressive policies will ultimately fail.