Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has criticized the federal government’s policy of expelling Afghan refugees, labeling it as “inhumane and oppressive.” He stated that the KP government would decide after March 31 whether to comply with the Centre’s directives to expel Afghans residing in the province.
The federal government has mandated that Afghan Citizen Card holders leave Pakistan voluntarily by the end of March; otherwise, they face deportation. Gandapur opposes this policy, arguing that forcibly repatriating Afghans without proper arrangements in their home country violates basic human rights. He advocates for granting Pakistani citizenship to Afghan refugees without criminal records who wish to stay.
Gandapur also criticized state institutions for focusing on political matters, particularly targeting the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which he believes has led to a resurgence in militancy due to neglect of law and order responsibilities.
KP hosts a significant number of Afghan refugees, with Peshawar accommodating the highest number. Many have been residing in the province for decades, integrating into local communities and contributing to the economy.
