Afghan refugees seek more time

Afghan refugees, residing in various parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have demanded of the government to give further extension in their legal residency status period. They also urged to take steps for resolving their problems amicably before the repatriation to their home country. The demand was made by elders Haji Arsala Khan, Haji Sherzada, Qari Mehmood Shah, Muhammad Saed Hashmi and others during an Afghan Refugees grand 'Jirga' held at Peshawar Press Club here on Thursday. The 'Jirga' discussed the problem faced by registered Afghan refugees elsewhere in the province.
Arsala Khan said Afghan refugees had expressed gratitude to the government of Pakistan for their prolonged hosting in the country, and for ensuring provision of education, health, and other facilities to them, along with giving opportunities to make investment and business.
But, he stressed that after being deprived of their rights for around 40 years now, his compatriots wanted nothing more than to return to Afghanistan with dignity. He also pointed out that for refugees, who had built livelihoods and businesses in Pakistan; it would not be possible to shift their entire set-up in one go. Sherzada noted wryly that debtors who knew Afghan refugees had until the end of this year to leave the country "have stopped taking our calls", while creditors "are hounding us", and demanded the both countries to form a body to address financial disputes between citizens on both sides of the border.
According to UN report, Arsala Khan said around 1.5 million people had become homeless due to prolonged war in neighbouring Afghanistan. He wondered whether Afghanistan would be able to absorb the huge population of returning refugees if they all went back within the stipulated timeframe, ie before the end.
He further viewed that no proper health, education, and job facilities were available under the prevailing circumstances of Afghanistan. He called upon the both Islamabad and Kabul to create conducive environment for return of Afghan refugees. Arsala Khan said Afghan refugees camps were not sanctuaries of the terrorists, but they had resided for decades with more peaceful manner, and contributed towards development and progress of the Pakistan.
He urged the government of Pakistan to give more extension in registered Afghan refugees' Proof of Residency (PoR) cards, to settle their issues and business deals with Pakistani compatriots. He further asked the repatriation process should be initiated after returning of complete normalcy and stability in the neighbouring Afghanistan.