ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet, in a meeting on Tuesday, approved a policy in regards to Afghani refugees’ repatriation, barring entry into the country for refugees without valid visas.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the cabinet meeting in which the policy, that calls for strict implementation of Pakistan’s immigration laws along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border and ensures that those without visas are not allowed entry, was approved. The policy does however permit an extension to registered refugees’ stay in the country, till the end of the current year.
“The interior ministry has been directed to expedite the process of registering refugees, which is already underway,” Information Minister Maryam Aurangzeb said in a media briefing at the conclusion of the cabinet meeting.
The cabinet also approved plans to build 50 bunkers along the Working Boundary in order to provide refuge to the area’s villagers during cross border firing incidents with India.
Half a million rupees in compensation was also approved for the families of those killed in these incidents, with the families of those injured in such fire exchanges allotted Rs0.15m in compensation.
The cabinet further agreed on conducting negotiations for a draft agreement with Russia for military personnel training.
Earlier, it had been announced that the cabinet had reduced the agenda for the meeting, with the proposed talks on reforms in FATA law the most prominent. Political activists criticised the move, with many hoping and anticipating that the meeting would result in a further step being taken towards removing the colonial era laws that are still imposed on the residents of the area.
These laws have been under the firing line for their archaic and harsh nature, as they deprive the millions of FATA residents, fundamental human and political rights.
