Najamuddin Khan Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions has assured Mengesha Kebede UNHCR representative in Pakistan, that no registered Afghan refugee, possessing POR card, will be arrested or deported unless involved in criminal activities. UNHCR representative in Pakistan called on Federal Minister for State and Frontier Regions here on Wednesday.
The minister said that he would issue directives to Commissioner Afghan Refugees in the provinces to ensure that no registered Afghan refugee holding proper registration card be apprehended by local administration unless he is involved in criminal activities.
He further said that there are two kinds of Afghan Refugees in Pakistan, ie registered and unregistered. Registered Afghan Refugees are not detained and they are freed after checking their identity cards but unregistered Afghan can be detained being alien.
The minister further said that there are issues which should be looked together by Pakistan and UNHCR. The Burband decision should be implemented and there is need to restructure and reorganise the strategy to deal with refugees problem.
The minister also discussed the problem of IDPs in Malakand. He said that strategy should be devised to deal with displaced people. UNHCR and Pakistan need to work closely in this regard, the minister added. The UNHCR representative said that there is quick response mechanism to deal with untoward situation.
The minister stressed the importance of establishment of Monitoring and RAHA cell in NWFP and Balochistan by UNHCR. He said that these cells would enhance the credibility of relief and rehabilitation work and would help in making aid more transparent. The minister further said that UNHCR involvement and presence in these cells will also help in attracting donors.
He suggested that UNHCR should conduct survey of areas affected by conflict, district-by-district and help IDPs who have lost everything during the Malakand operation. The UNHCR representative assured the minister that the most affected areas be surveyed and efforts should be made to provide temporary shelters before the onset of winter season. The minister assured the UNHCR representative that proper security measures will be taken to ensure security of the UN offices in Pakistan.-PR