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This proposal by IG islamabad police was happened in 2015 but after almost 3 years still it has not come into force.
ISLAMABAD - The government is in process of formulating a policy so as to pave way for rescinding refugee status and repatriating Afghan nationals found involved in criminal activities along with their families, as has been proposed by the Islamabad police.
According to the documents exclusively available with this scribe, IG Islamabad police in the wake of Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders had asked the chief commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) for formulation of a policy for appropriate action (repatriation) against Afghan refugees residing in Islamabad if they are found involved in criminal activities. All the relevant stakeholders i.e. UNHCR, ICT police, district administration Islamabad, NADRA, CDA, FIA and LEAs etc, besides embassy of Afghanistan in Pakistan, will be taken on board while formulating the policy to resolve the issue of Afghans still claiming refugee status in Pakistan as situation in their country has returned to normal, said the documents.
According to a letter written by the IG Islamabad police to ICT administration, a number of Afghan nationals residing in various slums as well as sectors of ICT and enjoying refugees status have been found involved in crimes of heinous nature, i.e. dacoity, murder, extortion, etc. The IG quoted the report of the SSP Islamabad on the subject to added: “It was further revealed that the Afghan refugees who were arrested and sent to judicial custody ultimately succeeded to get released on bail in criminal cases registered against them and returned to their home within Islamabad and were found involved in criminal activities.
The same situation is creating hindrance for ICT police to make the federal capital a crime-free city.” The letter recalled that superior judiciary while deciding criminal petitions against Afghan nationals had asked IG Islamabad to approach the relevant authorities for formulation of a policy to curb the involvement of Afghans in crime. On April 23, 2015, SSP Islamabad appeared before the bench and the court directed the SSP Islamabad to write to the concerned authorities to formulate a policy to repatriate Afghan refugees or confine them to their respective camps taking all the stakeholders on board, as majority of the Afghan refugees is involved in criminal activities, the letter added.
The letter further said the Afghan nationals came to Pakistan for seeking shelter during Soviet (USSR) aggression in Afghanistan in 1979 and were given a refugee status under UN Conventions. Afterwards, a number of the Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland but many are still residing in different cities of Pakistan including the federal capital. It said if any person is found involved in any criminal activity in a foreign country, he/she is immediately repatriated to his/her home country but same practice is not in vogue within Pakistan, particularly when it comes to Afghan refugees involved in criminal activities in Pakistan. “The Afghan nationals who have no valid documents, are booked under section 14 of Foreigners Act 1946 and are sent to refugee camps for further deportation to Afghanistan but it has been observed that they enter back Pakistan and continue their activities,” the letter said. Similarly, it added, there are others who have been provided with Afghan Origin Cards by NADRA and they cannot be deported or confined to camps. The IG observed the Afghan conflict has come to an end and there is a recognised government in power there. “The Afghanistan government is also recognised by Pakistan and under these circumstances, it is the need of the hour that a uniform policy may be formulated by the government to resolve this issue of Afghans still claiming refugee status in Pakistan but are found involved in heinous crimes, while taking on board all the relevant stakeholders i.e. UNHCR, ICT police, district administration Islamabad, NADRA, CDA, FIA and LEAs etc. besides embassy of Afghanistan in Pakistan,” the IG suggested.
The IG asked the chief commissioner ICT to approach the competent authority and arrange a meeting with all stakeholders with the proposal that either the refugees may be sent back to Afghanistan permanently or if any Afghan refugee enjoying refugee status is found involved in criminal activities, he/she along with his/her family may be repatriated to Afghanistan while waiving off his refugee status. Subsequently, chief commissioner Islamabad has asked the interior ministry for coordination and to arrange a ministerial-level meeting for coordination and taking a policy decision on the subject, said the sources.
It is important to mention here that there are four big Afghan settlements in the federal capital and they are one each in Golra and Nilore areas while two are in Sabzi Mandi area. A large number of Afghan nationals are also residing in Bhara Kahu area of the federal capital.
ISLAMABAD - The government is in process of formulating a policy so as to pave way for rescinding refugee status and repatriating Afghan nationals found involved in criminal activities along with their families, as has been proposed by the Islamabad police.
According to the documents exclusively available with this scribe, IG Islamabad police in the wake of Islamabad High Court (IHC) orders had asked the chief commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) for formulation of a policy for appropriate action (repatriation) against Afghan refugees residing in Islamabad if they are found involved in criminal activities. All the relevant stakeholders i.e. UNHCR, ICT police, district administration Islamabad, NADRA, CDA, FIA and LEAs etc, besides embassy of Afghanistan in Pakistan, will be taken on board while formulating the policy to resolve the issue of Afghans still claiming refugee status in Pakistan as situation in their country has returned to normal, said the documents.
According to a letter written by the IG Islamabad police to ICT administration, a number of Afghan nationals residing in various slums as well as sectors of ICT and enjoying refugees status have been found involved in crimes of heinous nature, i.e. dacoity, murder, extortion, etc. The IG quoted the report of the SSP Islamabad on the subject to added: “It was further revealed that the Afghan refugees who were arrested and sent to judicial custody ultimately succeeded to get released on bail in criminal cases registered against them and returned to their home within Islamabad and were found involved in criminal activities.
The same situation is creating hindrance for ICT police to make the federal capital a crime-free city.” The letter recalled that superior judiciary while deciding criminal petitions against Afghan nationals had asked IG Islamabad to approach the relevant authorities for formulation of a policy to curb the involvement of Afghans in crime. On April 23, 2015, SSP Islamabad appeared before the bench and the court directed the SSP Islamabad to write to the concerned authorities to formulate a policy to repatriate Afghan refugees or confine them to their respective camps taking all the stakeholders on board, as majority of the Afghan refugees is involved in criminal activities, the letter added.
The letter further said the Afghan nationals came to Pakistan for seeking shelter during Soviet (USSR) aggression in Afghanistan in 1979 and were given a refugee status under UN Conventions. Afterwards, a number of the Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland but many are still residing in different cities of Pakistan including the federal capital. It said if any person is found involved in any criminal activity in a foreign country, he/she is immediately repatriated to his/her home country but same practice is not in vogue within Pakistan, particularly when it comes to Afghan refugees involved in criminal activities in Pakistan. “The Afghan nationals who have no valid documents, are booked under section 14 of Foreigners Act 1946 and are sent to refugee camps for further deportation to Afghanistan but it has been observed that they enter back Pakistan and continue their activities,” the letter said. Similarly, it added, there are others who have been provided with Afghan Origin Cards by NADRA and they cannot be deported or confined to camps. The IG observed the Afghan conflict has come to an end and there is a recognised government in power there. “The Afghanistan government is also recognised by Pakistan and under these circumstances, it is the need of the hour that a uniform policy may be formulated by the government to resolve this issue of Afghans still claiming refugee status in Pakistan but are found involved in heinous crimes, while taking on board all the relevant stakeholders i.e. UNHCR, ICT police, district administration Islamabad, NADRA, CDA, FIA and LEAs etc. besides embassy of Afghanistan in Pakistan,” the IG suggested.
The IG asked the chief commissioner ICT to approach the competent authority and arrange a meeting with all stakeholders with the proposal that either the refugees may be sent back to Afghanistan permanently or if any Afghan refugee enjoying refugee status is found involved in criminal activities, he/she along with his/her family may be repatriated to Afghanistan while waiving off his refugee status. Subsequently, chief commissioner Islamabad has asked the interior ministry for coordination and to arrange a ministerial-level meeting for coordination and taking a policy decision on the subject, said the sources.
It is important to mention here that there are four big Afghan settlements in the federal capital and they are one each in Golra and Nilore areas while two are in Sabzi Mandi area. A large number of Afghan nationals are also residing in Bhara Kahu area of the federal capital.
