PkMAP chief laments ‘undue arrests’ amid deportations

QUETTA: Pashtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) Chairman Mahmood Khan Achakzai on Sunday said the Afghan refugees’ predicament is a matter of humanitarian concern.

Addressing a press conference at the Quetta Press Club, Achakzai acknowledged that while Pakistan may not be a direct signatory to international refugee conventions, its acceptance of refugees under the international umbrella establishes a strong precedent.

This implies an implicit obligation for Pakistan to adhere to the conventions and protocols governing refugee affairs. He lamented that in various cities, the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have been apprehending Pashtuns hailing from the Pakistani side of the Durand Line, without due cause.

Achakzai said Pashtuns on both sides of the Durand Line enjoyed a degree of freedom of movement. He urged the government to refrain from criminalising cross-border trade under the pretext of smuggling, and instead, advocated for its formalisation and facilitation to harness its financial benefits through Customs duties and taxes.

He recommended the establishment of Customs houses at six strategic points along the Durand Line for this purpose, referencing a committee chaired by Chaudhry Shujaat and Mushahid on Balochistan, which had previously made similar recommendations. Achakzai underscored the importance of cultivating relations based on peaceful coexistence and mutual trust with neighbouring states to address economic and security concerns.