June 26, 2003	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 25,1424

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ISLAMABAD, June 25: The local administration has been asked to contact slum dwellers to verify the character of Afghan nationals booked by the police in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

This was stated by Federal Minister for Water and Power Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao while talking to a delegation of Afghan refugees from kutchi abadis here on Wednesday. The Afghan ambassador Dr Nanguyalai Tarzi also attended the meeting.

On the occasion, Afghan refugees chief commissioner said about 3,500 refugees had repatriated this year.

The meeting discussed issues relating to Afghan refugees living outside the established camps.

The minister said Pakistan would respect the tripartite agreement aimed at repatriation of 1.8 million Afghan refugees by the year 2005.

“We have been treating Afghan refugees as brothers, not as refugees,” he added.

Pakistan will not force the refugees to leave the country as this is a voluntary process, Mr Sherpao said.

About detention of over 500 refugees in Adiala Jail, the minister said he would hold a separate meeting with the interior minister to discuss this issue.