MANSEHRA: The Commissionerate Afghan Refugees has demolished 16 mud houses in the Ichrian camp here after Afghan refugees left them in line with the government’s orders.

“Sixteen Afghan families left the Ichrian camp on the first day of our operation to relocate 499 families from there and Sheikhabad camp,” CAR security head Mohammad Saeed told reporters on Thursday.

A joint team of police, the commissionerate of Afghan refugees and other relevant departments led by district administrator (Afghan refugees) Abdullah Khan began an operation to evacuate Ichrian camp located near the Hazara Motorway.

The federal government had ordered the closure of all refugee camps located along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor route and relocate Afghans to camps in Khaki (Mansehra) or Haripur, or repatriate them under the UNHCR programme.

Houses vacated by refugees demolished

Mr Saeed said 499 Afghan families with the population of as many as 4,217 people would be relocated from Ichrian and Sheikhabad camps, which were located near Hazara Motorway and other projects being executed under the CPEC initiative.

He said of 16 families, which left the Ichrian camp, six went to Haripur and Khawajan camps, three to Afghanistan, and one to Mor Baffa area in Mansehra.

“The mud houses vacated by refugees have been demolished,” he said.

Mr Saeed said the operation to get both camps vacated would be completed within a month.

HELD: Police arrested a man for killing a boy and injuring his cousin in Pakhwal area here.

The arrest of Mohammad Adil was made after the deceased’s family and residents took to the streets against the killing over a monetary dispute.

Also in the day, the police seized 1kg charas and held drug pusher Waliur Rehman.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2019