QUETTA, April 10: The general-secretary of the Balochistan chapter of People’s Party Parliamentarians, Bismillah Khan Kakar, has welcomed the government’s decision to close down the ‘Jungle’ refugee camp from April 15.

He said that thousands of families living in areas adjoining the camp had heaved a sigh of relief due to the decision. In a statement issued here, he said the refugee camp had become a den for criminals and had caused immense misery to people in the Qila Abdullah and Gulistan areas.

The PPP leader said the government had forcibly settled refugees in the camp on land owned by sub-clans of the Kakar tribe. He called upon the government to give back the land to its rightful owners.

He said it was the government’s responsibility to take appropriate action and restore the ownership rights of the local people.