QUETTA, April 12: Afghan refugees blocked the Quetta-Chaman highway near Kuchlak and pelted vehicles with stones injuring a senior officer on Thursday. A large number of Afghans gathered in Kuchlak area and protested against the government’s decision to repatriate refugees who failed to get themselves registered.

The government had announced that Afghan refugees without registration cards would be treated as illegal immigrants.

Unregistered refugees blocked the national highway linking Quetta with Afghanistan via Chaman and chanted slogans against the government. They demanded that they should be allowed to stay in Pakistan till peace in Afghanistan.

They also pelted vehicles and police personnel carrier with stones. Police officer Manzoor Tareen suffered injuries.

Traffic remained suspended for some time.