PESHAWAR: Afghan refugees, especially traders in different areas, are facing problems and are asking for an extension in the deadline for deportation.
Abdullah, a resident of Kabul, presently living in Faqirabad, said that in the past when Afghan refugees were in Pakistan, he used to earn much money but nowadays his earning had fallen manifold.
“The deadline for the refugees’ deportation is too short,” said Abdullah, sitting on his pushcart and waiting for customers in Board Bazaar area, which is also known as “mini-Kabul”. He said Allah fulfils all needs of humans. “Khpal Watan,Gul Watan,” he mentioned a Pashto quote saying he loves his country Afghanistan and he along with his family will happily go to his motherland someday. Similarly, Rahmatullah of Logar, Afghanistan, presently living in Spena Warai area of Peshawar, said that due to fear of fines in cash and the violent attitude of the police, they cannot move in their business place, i.e. Board Bazaar. Talking to Daily Times he said that after the Torkham incident in which an army official was killed,the Afghans suffered much in various areas of Pakistan. A social media activist, Momin Khan, requested the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan to be engaged with each other and help each other. He said it was the duty of state to constitute a policy for sending the refugees back with honour.