ACCORDING to the UN, almost three million Afghan refugees still reside in Pakistan, carrying their businesses. Most of them are not willing to leave Pakistan. But the real citizens of Pakistan suffered a lot from the Afghan refugees’ malpractices and wrongdoing.

Pakistan never built a strong record and tracking system of the refugees and never limited them to live in particular areas. As a result, they freely moved around and settled down in major cities like Quetta, Karachi and Peshawar.

If we compare law and order situation of these cities with other cities of the country, we see that these cities have a severe law and order situation.

If the federal and provincial governments want to improve security situation for the upcoming elections, they must launch an operation against illegal immigrants and deport them to their respective countries.

As Afghanistan’s security situation is much similar to Pakistan, Afghan refugees’ presence in Pakistan is unjustified.

Pakistan may learn from Iran where the administration did not tolerate these refugees and deported them to Afghanistan.

Pakistan and UN had given a deadline of December 30, 2012, to the registered Afghan refugees. The date has been now extended for six months.

As a Pakistani, it is a grave concern for me that during the elections the Afghan refugees will remain here and they might influence the historic elections and create security issues.

It is an appeal to all responsible offices to launch a crackdown against the Afghan refugees before elections and deport them to their country.

SAEED KHAN KHILJI
Quetta