Issuance of CNICs to Afghan refugees slammed

Elders of Isa Khel tribe of Mohmand Agency Wednesday charged the political administration and officials of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) for issuance of Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) and domiciles to Afghan refugees of Hazarbuz tribe after declaring them Pakistani nationals of the sub-tribe Toota Khel.
They demanded of the government to cancel all CNICs issued to the Hazarbuz, a gipsy tribe so far in recent past. Addressing a press conference here at Peshawar Press Club (PPC) the tribal elders called for cancellation of all CNICs and domiciles of Afghan refugees.
He warned that in case of the failure of the government in cancellation of the computerised national identity cards and domicile the tribesmen of the Mohmand Agency would launch a protest movement. They said that they would hold sit-in protest in front of Governor's House Peshawar and Parliament House Islamabad.
Those who addressed the news conference were including Mirza Khan Mohmand, Malik Dilawar Khan Mohmand, Malik Siraj Gul Mohmand, Malik Saadullah, Malik Haji Zarmash, Malik Jan Sher and other elders of the Mohmand Agency.
They said that the Hazarbuz, a gipsy tribe of Afghanistan migrated to Mohmand Agency after the intervention of Soviet forces. Those refugees, the tribal elders said have no property in Mohmand Agency, but the officials of Nadra have declared that Hazarbuz, are tribesmen of the Toota Khel, as sub-tribe of Mohmand. He said that declaring Afghan refugees as Pakistani citizens was a conspiracy against the country and the elders of Mohmand Agency would foil it.
Earlier dozens of tribesmen staged a protest demonstration in front of Peshawar Press Club against the political administration of Mohmand Agency and Nadra officials. Angry protesters led by the elders of Mohmand Agency chanted slogans and urged government to resolve the issue of the issuance of national identity cards to Afghan refugees.
They demanded of the government to declare the disputed 25 villages as parts of Mohmand Agency, which have been merged with District Charsadda during the government of Sardar Mehtab Ahmad Khan in the province.