Government planning to start second phase of Afghan repatriation

The government of Pakistan has started preparing the second phase of a controversial repatriation drive, sending Afghans back to their homeland. District and police authorities have been tasked to map and collect all the relevant data of their locations across the country.

Dawn has reported that authorities have been advised to expedite the mapping of Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders. “We have already started the mapping process,” said Abid Majeed, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s additional chief secretary.
“It will pick up pace after Ramazan and we hope to complete the survey before April 30,” he said.

As of yet no date has been formally announced, however, an official told Dawn that it could begin in early to mid-summer, following approval from the federal government.

Amnesty International has called on Pakistan to immediately stop and reverse its decision of sending back Afghan people back to their country.

Pakistan began the repatriation process of “undocumented aliens” in November last year. The repatriation of Afghan refugees, which was part of the National Action Plan, has also now found its way into Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s 100-day working plan.