Fazlur Rehman alleged authorities of property usurpation on Afghans deportations

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F),issued a statement on Tuesday expressing concerns about the treatment of Afghan refugees with legal documents.The JUI released the statement when the government’s campaign against foreigners living undocumented and illegally in Pakistan.

Fazlur Rehman accused authorities of exerting pressure on these refugees to depart and cited instances of property seizure.He suggested that the deportation of Afghan refugees should be treated as a bilateral issue, requiring Islamabad to engage with the Afghan government. He called for the establishment of a coordinated mechanism to ensure the safe return of Afghan refugees to their home country.

The JUI-F chief voiced his apprehensions that, under the pretext of addressing illegal immigration, even legally residing Afghans are facing blackmail.He alleged that local authorities and influential figures are involved in the harassment of Afghan refugees who have been living in compliance with the law.

On August 14, 2016, Fazlur Rehman said that I warn the government of Pakistan against repatriating Afghan refugees through use of force.Force repatriation of Afghan refugees will not benefit our cause, except making the Afghans an enemy of Pakistan.He was addressing a gathering in the federal capital.

In 2016, when PML (N) set the deadline (December 31, 2016) for Afghans repatriation. The N league allies i.e. JUI-F, Jamat-i-Islami, Pakhtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) and Awami National Party (ANP) confronted the move hence the repatriation campaign failed altogether.