By Riaz Hussain
The Afghan Refugees Council in Mardan has called on the federal government to extend the March 31 deadline for Afghan refugees holding ACC (Afghan Citizen Card) cards, warning that forced repatriation would be an act of oppression.
Speaking at a press conference at the Mardan Press Club, Ahmad Din Patyar, head of the council in Jalala Afghan Refugee Camp, emphasized that Afghan refugees did not come to Pakistan for business or personal gain but were compelled to flee Afghanistan due to conflict and instability. He pointed out that their third generation has grown up in Pakistan, and expelling them on short notice would cause immense hardship.
Flanked by fellow council members, including Badam Gul, Haji Zar Khan, Haji Sardar, and Haji Malik Saleem, Noor Ahmad Din Patyar expressed gratitude to the Pakistani government and its people for their long-standing hospitality and respect toward Afghan refugees. However, he strongly criticized the decision to deport ACC cardholders by March 31, calling it inhumane.
“Our lives, relationships, and livelihoods are all tied to Pakistan. Such a hasty decision is causing great distress to Afghan families who have lived here for decades,” he said.
Patyar highlighted Afghanistan’s ongoing instability since the Soviet invasion, noting that successive governments have failed to bring lasting peace. He stressed that Afghan refugees in Pakistan have never interfered in the country’s internal or political matters and have always earned their livelihood through honest work.
The council leaders also dismissed concerns about security, stating that no registered Afghan refugee has been involved in criminal activities. They revealed that the province hosts around 800,000 Afghan refugees with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards and 500,000 with ACC cards, though the actual number is believed to be higher.
Appealing to both the Pakistani government and the international community, the council urged support for Afghan refugees based on humanitarian grounds. They stated that while they have no objections to the deportation of illegal refugees, those holding ACC cards should be given more time to arrange their affairs and avoid abrupt displacement.
The Pakistani government has yet to respond to the appeal, as the March 31 deadline approaches.
