Ban on Afghan Refugees to Pakistan to affect Pak-Afghan relations

ISLAMABAD (NNI): Member of the suspended NWFP Assembly Saifullah Khan has said that the ban on entry of Afghan refugees to Pakistan might adversely affect Pak-Afghan relations.

In a press statement Thursday, he said that the Afghan population has been severely hit by prolonged infighting and drought. At the advent of winter living conditions in Afghanistan would further deteriorate especially for the poor segments of society, he added.

He urged upon the government to review its decision and provide necessary facilities to incoming tragedy stricken Afghan families on humanitarian grounds.

“It is more important for us to help the Afghan people as they are our Muslim brothers and it is our religious and moral duty to help them”, he remarked.

While admitting economic difficulties Pakistan has been facing because of presence of large number of Afghan refugees, he appealed to the international donor agencies not to ignore Afghan and Pakistani people, who played heroic role in war against former Soviet Union on behalf of the world community.

Referring to preparation of faulty electoral rolls by NADRA, he demanded inquiry into the affairs of this organization and asked the government to award exemplary punishment to the persons responsible for huge loss to the national exchequer.

Error free electoral roll provides firm basis for building the democratic institutions in the country and the government should take positive steps for timely completion of accurate electoral rolls, he added.