Afghanistan Peace CampaignThis comes as some of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan expressed concerns over their mistreatment by the country’s police.
Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti, Pakistan Caretaker Interior Minister, said that over “482,000 illegal Afghan immigrants’ have been deported from the country since the policy of deportation of refugees has become into effect.
Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said that all foreigners, including Afghans, residing legally in the country would also be deported immediately if found to be engaged in political activities.
According to the Pakistan media, Bugti said that the Constitution does not allow any foreigner on a visa to take part in politics in Pakistan.
“The number of people who have returned so far is 482,000, who have been deported” through different crossings from Pakistan, he said.
Bugti also claimed that 90 percent of the Afghan refugees left Pakistan voluntarily. He said that nearly 10 Afghans involved in Pakistan political parties’ activities have been recognized.
“They have nothing to do with the politics of Pakistan. Nearly 10 people who have been identified initially who are involved in political activities will be deported,” he said.
This comes as some of the Afghan refugees in Pakistan expressed concerns over their mistreatment by the country’s police.
“The refugees who have recently returned to their countries, they were forced to leave because the Pakistani police were conducting crackdowns on their houses and were harassing them and beating them,” said Javid Ebrar, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.
“Many refugees who have returned from Pakistan to Afghanistan were beaten by the police and taken by the police to Torkham,” said Malik Shinwari, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan.
But the Islamic Emirate’s spokesman, Zabiullah Mujahid, said that the Afghans who are living in Pakistan don’t interfere in the country’s internal affairs.
“The Afghans who are in Pakistan do not interfere in Pakistan’s internal affairs and this is an incorrect concern… we deny it,” he said.
The deportation of Afghan refugees by Pakistan has caused serious concerns among the international community.