Daily Times

KARACHI: After a span of 70 years, rulers of the country have considered Pakhtoons as immigrants in Pakistan, said Qasim Jan, Sindh General Secretary of Awami National Party (ANP).

The government should make a formal announcement for Pakhtoons of the country that they were not citizens of Pakistan, he said while addressing a press conference at Karachi Press Club here on Wednesday.

Jan further demanded of the Sindh government and Inspector General of Police Sindh to take notice regarding the victimization of Pakhtoons in the name or identity of Afghans across province by the law enforcing agencies. The government should restrain the LEAs for taking bribe in the name of Afghani’s from Pakhtoon community and stop such practices.

“If the victimization through such behavior will not stop immediately, it would aggravate ethnic hatred across the province,” he warned.

During last few days, the government has started a crackdown against Afghan nationals but under its umbrella the Pakistani Pakhtoons are been tortured and victimised financially, he pointed out.

Punjab Government should clarify its stance against Pakhtoons who were doing businesses and have been settled here since a long time and are being disgraced by the provincial leaders and their plan is to secretly ban and deny their right to live under constitution of Pakistan. The Punjab government should expel Pakhtoons from their province so that the people should know about their real face, he remarked.