KHAAR (Bajaur Agency), Aug 6: Political Agent Mohammad Fahim Wazir has said Afghan refugees living in the tribal areas will have to leave the country before Aug 31, otherwise they will have to face action .

He was briefing journalists here on Saturday. He said that the federal government had directed the political authorities to expel the refugees from Fata for security reasons.

He said that the political administration of Bajaur in the light of the federal government’s instructions had issued orders to refugees to leave the agency by Aug 31.

Fahim Wazir said that the refugees had been given orders to voluntarily leave the agency before the deadline. Those who fail to comply with the order will be expelled from the territory, he said.

The political agent said that the UNHCR would start compiling a list of refugees who were willing to leave the agency. The voluntary repatriation of the refugees from the agency will begin on August 9, he said.

He said that a grand operation would be launched against refugees who fail to leave, and added that they would be expelled by force.