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Pakistan Places Restrictions on Afghan Refugees
By Aamir Latif
KARACHI, Nov 6 (IslamOnline) - Pakistan has imposed a ban on Afghan refugees, restricting their movement to their respective refugee camps all over the country in order to "maintain law and order," said Syed Kamal Shah, the Inspector General Police (IGP) of the Sindh Province on Tuesday.
The government already issued clear warnings to the refugees not to participate in anti-U.S. rallies and demonstrations in Pakistan. Violators risk being deported to Afghanistan. Last month, about 400 Afghan refugees were sent back to their native land for violating the restrictions.
"The government has issued directives to all the provincial governments to restrict the movement of Afghan refugees, especially the newcomers to their respective camps," said Shah. "The security agencies have also been directed to keep vigil on the afghan refugees in order to avert any untoward incident."
Shah added the government had recently received "authentic information" that the "enemy" could take advantage of the ongoing situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan and might use some of the refugees to flare-up terrorism in the country.
"The Afghan refugees are our brothers and friends of Pakistan, but the presence of some black sheep among them could not be ruled out," stated Shah. "No Afghan refugee will be allowed to enter the cities, however, [and] after a thorough screening, special passes would be issued to the needy people only in case of any emergency, like life-threatening diseases or wounds."
When asked about the "enemy" who wanted to take advantage of the ongoing situation, an intelligence official told IslamOnline that Pakistani security agencies had received information that the Northern Alliance had, in collaboration with Indian intelligence authorities, allegedly hatched plans to spread terrorism in the country.
According to the official - who spoke on the condition of anonymity - mosques, churches, embassies and the consulates of Western and Arab countries are possible targets. He contended that the Taliban, or the al-Qa'eda network, would be held responsible for any terrorist act committed.
"The law-enforcement agencies have beefed up stern security measures in and around the sensitive places to frustrate such designs," he added.
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