ISLAMABAD: Representatives of various political parties, most with a voter base in Pakhtun-majority areas, in a meeting urged the government to follow Iran’s policy and let Afghans stay in the country for five more years.

The meeting was called by Maulana Fazlur Rehman at his official residence in Minister’s Colony and was attended by Jamaat-i-Islami chief Sirajul Haq, Mehmood Khan Achakzai of the Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), Afrasiyab Khattak of the Awami National Party, adviser to the Prime Minister Amir Muqam and representatives of the Qaumi Watan Party led by Aftab Sherpao.

However, the JUI-F chief did not invite the PTI to the meeting.

The political leaders decided to raise a voice against what they said was persecution and structured harassment of Afghans and Pakistani Pakhtuns in the country.

“We want the government to extend the Afghans’ stay till 2021, as Iran has done,” Maulana Fazlur Rehman said.

PkMAP leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai said Afghans’ stay in Pakistan was a regional issue and cannot be decided with the stroke of a pen.

“Afghans have been here for a very long time and they were welcomed into the country by the authorities. Forcibly throwing them out is against international norms,” he said.

Mr Achakzai added that the authorities should understand that forced repatriation will only lead to the deterioration of relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan and may also lead to increased Indian influence in Afghanistan.

Participants agreed that all Afghans arrested for staying illegally in the country should be released and given legal status by granting them work permits.

Leaders of various political parties criticised the move to block the ID cards that Afghans hold and said the move was “the harassment of Pakhtuns”.

“My question is, has any action been taken against those who gave CNICs to Afghans because these officials were either bribed or the Afghans used connections in the National Database and Registration Authority to get CNICs,” Mr Achakzai asked.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2016