As the deadline approaches for the Pakistani government’s mandatory deportation of refugees, especially Afghans, Interior Minister of Pakistan, Sarfraz Bugti, announced that all refugees lacking valid documents will be deported from the country in two stages.
Kabul 24: According to Geo News, on Sunday night, October 30, Bugti stated that in the first stage, refugees without residency and travel documents will be expelled.
Despite reports of harassment of Afghan refugees by the Pakistani police, Bugti assured that they will be treated with respect.
He added, “Authorities have instructed officials to deal with women, children, and adults with utmost respect.”
Bugti clarified that in the second stage, refugees possessing Pakistani government Identity Card (POR) and registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees will be expelled.
The Pakistani official also mentioned that on Thursday and Friday, October 28 and 29, between 15,000 to 20,000 Afghan refugees left the country voluntarily.
Bugti emphasized, “All provincial authorities are part of the deportation operation, and committees have been formed at the district level to identify illegal refugees.”
He declared the total number of refugees, including Afghans, in the country as three million.
This comes as the deadline for Pakistan’s government to deport refugees from the country approaches.
International Amnesty stated that the deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan violates their human rights.
According to the organization, more than 1.4 million undocumented Afghan refugees are at imminent risk of deportation from Pakistan.
