04 November 2004	Thursday	20 Ramazan 1425

ISLAMABAD, Nov 3: Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao on Wednesday said Afghan refugees were involved in the increasing crimes in and around Islamabad.

The minister expressed the reservation during a meeting with Afghan Ambassador Dr Nanguyalai Tarzi, who called on him at the ministry. A wide range of issues of mutual interest came under discussion.

The envoy expressed his gratitude to the people and the government of Pakistan for cooperation extended to the Afghans during the presidential election.

"We are thankful for the foolproof security arrangements made by the Pakistani authorities for Afghan voters in Pakistan."

The envoy was told that Pakistan had released four hundred Afghan prisoners as a good will gesture.

The minister thanked the envoy for the release of Pakistani prisoners from Afghan jails.

Mr Tarzi gave an assurance to the minister that all possible sources would be utilised to handle the problem of increasing crimes in Islamabad. "We fully share the concern of Pakistani government as regard to the Afghan refugees," he added.

He expressed his gratitude to the government of Pakistan for the release of Afghan prisoners and hoped that fraternal relations between the two countries would become stronger in the future.

A Islamabad police report has revealed that Afghan nationals were involved in 90 per cent of the crimes committed in the twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad.

It said most of the Afghan women were allegedly involved in prostitution in the cities, especially in residential localities of Khayaban-i-Sir Syed, Satellite Town, Muslim Town, Sadiqabad and sectors I-9, I-10.

"We cannot detain Afghan nationals indulged in different crimes because of government's foreign policy and many other reasons," a senior police official told Dawn.

"Our lockups and jails have already filled and there is no other place to detain illegal immigrants and the Afghans," he said.

About two years ago, the government had considered to keep the Afghans in the twin cities in a confined area to restrict their movement, but so far no action has been taken in this regard.