Page 10 - Pakistan Link - November 24, 2023

P10 - PAKISTAN LINK - NOVEMBER 24, 2023 PAKISTAN
More than 400,000 Afghans Return US Calls for Safe Resettlement

Home following Crackdown on Migrants of Afghan Refugees

WASHINGTON: The US State De- Pakistan takes center stage in address-
Pakistan also introduced plans un- partment has urged Pakistan to ing the challenges associated with the
der which hundreds of thousands of prioritize the safety and efficient re- resettlement process.
residents in the southwestern border settlement of Afghan refugees and Highlighting the shared responsibil-
town of Chaman would need visas to asylum seekers. ity in addressing the plight of refugees,
cross between the two countries. They The call comes amid concerns that he emphasized the need for collabora-
previously had special permits. hasty or unscrupulous deportations tive efforts to navigate the complexities
On Monday, hundreds briefly could pose a significant risk to the lives of resettlement.
blocked a key road leading to the Cha- of these vulnerable individuals. Mr Miller expressed particular con-
man border, disrupting traffic and the “Our key concern is the safety of cern about the safety of those await-
repatriation of some of the Afghans. vulnerable and at-risk individuals,” ing American visas, but Pakistan has
Residents in Chaman have been State Department spokesperson Mat- assured Washington that it would not
protesting repeatedly, asking Pakistan thew Miller said at a Tuesday afternoon deport 25,000 Afghan refugees waiting
to allow them to continue using the news briefing. for their US visas.
special permits for business purposes Highlighting the shared responsibil-
and to meet with relatives who live in ity in addressing the plight of refugees, Aid for Balochistan
the Afghan border city of Spin Boldak. he emphasized the need for collabora- About the fund for Balochistan
Afghans wait for transport to depart for their homeland, in Karachi, Pakistan, Since November 1, police in Paki- tive efforts to navigate the complexities police, Mr Miller said the package,
Friday, November 17, 2023 - AP stan have been going door-to-door to of resettlement. announced in Islamabad, supports
check migrants’ documentation. Paki- “We believe it is in both our coun- four key initiatives including $2m
ISLAMABAD: More than 400,000 Af- crackdown, saying that anyone with- stani officials had said before that the tries’ interest to ensure the safe and to expand anti-terrorist training fa-
ghans returned to their home country out proper documents had to leave the crackdown involves all foreigners in efficient resettlement of refugees and cilities and $2m for the repair of 10
following the ongoing crackdown on country by October 31 or else get ar- the country, but most of those affected asylum seekers.” flood-hit police stations, $2m for
illegal foreigners in the country, Paki- rested. are Afghan nationals. The latest devel- Mr Miller said, “We join all of our building 10 new police stations, with
stani authorities said Monday. However, Pakistani officials said the opment comes days after the World partners in urging all countries, includ- an additional $250,000 for purchas-
Zabihullah Mujahid, chief spokes- other 1.4 million Afghans registered as Health Organization warned that about ing Pakistan, to uphold their respective ing safety equipment.
person of the Taliban-led government refugees need not worry as only people 1.3 million Afghans were expected to obligations in the treatment of refugees Responding to Pakistani media
in Afghanistan, confirmed the number without proper documentation were return to their country of origin from and asylum seekers. We strongly en- reports about the US ambassador’s
and told The Associated Press that the sought after. Pakistan despite the onset of cold courage all of Afghanistan’s neighbors alleged meeting with former prime
majority have been using the border In the 1980s, millions of Afghans weather. Such expulsions have drawn to allow entry for Afghans seeking in- minister Imran Khan in Adiala Jail,
crossings of Torkham and Spin Boldak fled to neighboring Pakistan during widespread criticism from internation- ternational protection and coordinate the State Department representative
to return home. the Soviet occupation of their country. al and domestic human rights groups. with international humanitarian orga- reiterated Washington’s stance of not
An estimated 1.7 million Afghans The numbers witnessed a spike after The Taliban-led administration in nizations to provide assistance.” taking a position on candidates for
had been living in Pakistan when au- the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in Afghanistan said it was providing shel- As the situation evolves, the diplo- political office in Pakistan or any oth-
thorities announced its nationwide 2021. ter and food to returnees. - AP matic engagement between the US and er country. - Dawn

Imran’s Lawyer Sher Afzal Khan Marwat

Appointed PTI Senior Vice President

the notification for Marwat’s appoint- Saifullah Abro were also appointed se- charges against him fell under sections
ment, which was signed by Secretary nior vice presidents. 120-B (punishment for criminal con-
General Omar Ayub, on social media It should be noted that Mar- spiracy) and 153-A (promoting en-
platform X (formerly Twitter). The wat represented the PTI chief in the mity between different groups) of the
party said that the lawyer had been Toshakhana trial. He became close Pakistan Penal Code.
appointed senior vice president “with to Imran when he launched a tirade Separately, former Punjab MPA
immediate effect”. against trial court judge Humayun Seemabia Tahir was appointed the PTI
Marwat said his new responsi- Dilawar during the proceedings of the president for north Punjab.
bilities would motivate him to work trial and was subsequently added to Expressing gratitude for the ap-
harder. “I am indebted to PTI Chair- the PTI core committee. pointment, she said: “With the help of
man Imran Khan for his trust in me,” In October, a case was registered Allah and the cooperation of the orga-
ISLAMABAD: Sher Afzal Khan Mar- a senior vice president of the party on he said. against Marwat on allegations of in- nizational leaders, I will try my best to
wat, a member of PTI Chairman Im- Wednesday. Earlier this year, PTI leaders Qa- stigating the public against state in- fulfil the responsibility entrusted to me
ran Khan’s legal team, was appointed The party’s official account shared sim Suri, Firdous Shamim Naqvi and stitutions through social media. The by the leaders and fulfil their trust.”

n By Anwar Iqbal US Lawmakers Seek ‘Suspension’ such as Ms Mazari, Khadija Shah and

“We believe that the United States
WASHINGTON: Eleven members Mr Khan.
of the US Congress, in a letter to US of Assistance to Pakistan can play a constructive role in support-
Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, ing positive change, and it is our hope
have urged the Biden administration to that our cooperation can contribute
withhold future US assistance to Paki- “We are extremely concerned Shia community in Gilgit-Baltistan. and also participates in protest meet- to a more just and equitable future for
stan, until the country restores consti- about the passing of the Criminal Law “Religious persecution remains ings and rallies held to demand an im- the people of Pakistan,” the lawmakers
tutional order and holds free and fair (Amendment) Bill, 2023 which will rampant in Pakistan, and we are con- mediate ceasefire in Gaza. wrote.
elections. strengthen the existing blasphemy cerned about future restrictions on The report also noted that the previ- In Washington, the focus on human
“We further request that future law, which has historically been used freedom of religion and belief should ous government in Pakistan had “wea- rights violations underscores the deli-
security assistance be withheld until to persecute religious minorities,” the this Bill become law,” the lawmakers ponized the country’s blasphemy laws cate balance between geopolitical alli-
Pakistan has moved decisively toward lawmakers wrote. warned. against former Prime Minister Imran ances and the promotion of democratic
the restoration of Constitutional order, They pointed out that the bill, which The move was initiated by Con- Khan and his cabinet members”. values on the global stage. The State
including by holding free and fair elec- is yet to be signed by the president, was gresswoman Ilhan Omar, who is one The letter also mentioned Imaan Department has been markedly care-
tions in which all parties are able to “passed in haste despite repeated calls of the champions of Muslim causes in Mazari, a human rights lawyer, who ful while commenting on the current
participate freely,” they wrote. from many lawmakers for a thorough the US Congress. Other signatories in- was taken from her home at 3am with- political situation in Pakistan.
The country’s moves to further parliamentary procedure.” clude Frank Pallone Jr, Joaquin Castro, out an arrest warrant after speaking at a The issue has been raised regularly
strengthen the blasphemy law also fig- The letter also pointed out that on Summer Lee, Ted W. Lieu, Dina Titus, rally against enforced disappearances. at the State Department’s daily brief-
ured prominently in the letter, which August 16, eight days after the bill was Lloyd Doggett and Cori Bush. The letter urged the US Embassy in ings, where the spokesperson has care-
warned Secretary Blinken that the pro- passed, a mob desecrated churches and Most of them are members of the Islamabad to send observers to hear- fully avoided making statements that
posed changes would be used to fur- set fire to homes of Christians in Jaran- progressive group within Congress, ings and other legal proceedings of hu- could be interpreted as an expression
ther tighten the noose around smaller wala. It also referred to reported pro- which played a key role in highlighting man rights defenders and political dis- of support for either the government
religious groups and minorities. tests against the bill, including by the the Palestinian issue in Washington sidents, including for emblematic cases or the opposition. - Dawn
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