KARACHI: Dr Ishtiaq Husain Qureshi, Deputy Minister of the Interior, Refugees and Rehabilitation, stated last night [March 26] that refugees were now entering Western Pakistan from the United Provinces at a rate of between 1,200 and 1,500 a day. He [feared] that the influx was unlikely to stop unless the Bharati Government took steps to restore confidence in the Muslim minority and to curb the activities of mischievous elements. In one case, he said, an entire village population had migrated after being officially told that if they wanted to live they had best bow to the wishes of the majority and accept conversion to Hinduism.

While every effort would be made to care for the refugees, he said, they would undoubtedly be a heavy strain on … resources… .

… In a statement, [he] said: “The tempo of … [refugee influx] from the western United Province into Sind has increased [alarmingly]. I met a train … from Kokhrapar to Hyderabad on the 24th evening. [It] alone brought about 1,500 refugees. The average number ... [is now] 1,200 to 1,500 a day. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, March 27th, 2025