SWABI, June 28: The Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) has cut off power supply to Afghan families living in the Gandaf and Gohati camps after some displaced persons left the camps without clearing their electricity bills, sources told Dawn.

According to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), the repatriation of Afghan families has gained momentum after the installation of transitional government in Kabul.

The large-scale repatriation has forced the UN commission to demand more funds to sustain the repatriation process, the sources said.

The sources said a large number of Afghan families wanted to return to their homeland from the refugee camps in Swabi. Some of them had already left for Afghanistan, while a number of them planned to leave the camps in a week, the sources said, adding that the majority of those repatriated could not pay their power bills and dodged the Pesco staff. The situation compelled Pesco to take action against those who were still living in the two camps, they added.

When contacted, the refugees said that not only the power supply had been disconnected, the electricity meters had also been taken away by the Pesco staff.

In the Gohati camp, power supply to about 300 refugees houses located near the bus stand had been disconnected while supply to the remaining houses might be disconnected in the next few days.

Situation is similar at the Gandaf camp where only the hospital has been receiving electric supply.

An official of the local administration said the Afghans returned to their country just to collect the UNHCR’s travel assistance and family kits along with the ration. After they get the desired things, they would make vigorous efforts to re-enter Pakistan through the porous Durand Line.

SOLDIER BURIED: A jawan of Pakistani security forces, who was killed in an encounter with Al Qaeda fighters in the South Waziristan Agency on Wednesday, was laid to rest with military honour here on Thursday evening.