Seminar urges Kabul to free Pakistanis

Published December 15, 2001

MINGORA, Dec 14: The organization, “Peace”, has demanded early release of the imprisoned Pakistanis in Afghanistan and protection to the lives of the Afghan refugees living in different camps in Pakistan.

According to a statement issued here on Friday, a one-day seminar was held in Dir by the organization, which was also addressed by its chief coordinator Muhammad Ilyas Khan.

He said peace in the world could not be maintained unless the terrorists are eliminated. He expressed his shock over the killings of the Muslims in Afghanistan, and said it all happened due to the wrong policies of certain so-called Maulvis. His organization, he said, would create awareness among the people so that they did not fall prey to negative politics.

Hailing the government’s Afghan policy, he said Pakistan’s importance had increased throughout the world.

Pukhtoonkhwa Qaumi Party (PQP) has urged the government to make arrangements for the safe return of Pakistanis, imprisoned by the anti-Taliban forces in Afghanistan, APP adds.

In a statement here on Friday, President of PQP, Mohammad Afzal Khan, while expressing concern over the fate of the arrested Pakistanis, said the government should approach the friendly countries to influence the new interim Afghan setup to treat the arrested Pakistanis in accordance with the code and ethics of the international human rights organizations.

Moreover, United Nations, OIC, Amnesty International and other world human rights organization be moved towards this end, he suggested. He said: “This is a human problem involving lives of hundreds of innocent people, therefore, practical steps are required to be taken.”

He also appealed to the new Afghan government not to take any step that could damage the centuries old relations existed between Pakistan and Afghanistan, rather the new rulers should lay foundation for a strong and stable relationship between the Islamic neighbouring countries.