Pakistan: CM opposes federal govt's Afghan refugee policy

Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur on Sunday strongly opposed the federal government’s policy of expelling Afghan refugees from the province, stating that it amounts to pushing them toward death. Addressing a press conference in Peshwar, Gandapur said he would act according to his provincial government's policies and traditions on the issue. Gandapur criticised the forced expulsion of Afghan refugees, calling it an insult to humanity. He blamed previous governments for implementing policies that worsened their plight and argued that, rather than dishonouring and forcibly deporting them, they should be granted Pakistani citizenship.
As per reports, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa hosts the biggest majority of the Afghan nationals residing in the country. Peshawar hosts the highest number of Afghan nationals than any other city. Thousands of them are doing their own businesses while others have been doing jobs in the city for the last many decades. They are living in many urban, suburban and rural areas along with the local populace. The federal government asked "illegal foreigners" and Afghan Citizen Card holders, residing in Pakistan, to leave before March 31.
Speaking on the rising wave of terrorism, the KP chief minister questioned the increasing incidents, claiming that the security situation was better during PTI founder Imran Khan's tenure. "When the state focused on crushing one party, it neglected its own responsibilities, leading to a surge in terrorism," he said, blaming the deteriorating security situation on the Centre's incompetence.Gandapur further asserted that once KP's rightful share under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award is provided, his government will increase police salaries and fund other necessary projects.