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Pakistan to attend UNHCR moot today

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ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan will attend the annual meeting of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees’ (UNHCR) Executive Committee meeting starting in Geneva today amid the country’s push for seeking deportation of around 1.75 million foreigners, mostly Afghans, residing in the country illegally.

The Pakistani delegation will be led by Special Representative on Afghanistan Asif Durrani while secretary SAFRON will also be part of the delegation. The UNHCR Executive Committee will be meeting from October 9 to October 13 in Geneva.

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“The Executive Committee inter alia considers the funding of various UNHCR programmes for refugees,” said a foreign office official. The 74th meeting of the UNHCR Executive Committee is taking place at a time when the issue of Afghan refugees is in the spotlight.

Read more: Pakistan grieved over devastating earthquake in Afghanistan

In a series of measures, Pakistan decided to evict all foreigners living in the country illegally. It has given some 1.75 million illegal immigrants, mostly Afghans, until Oct 31 to leave the country or face eviction.

The UNHCR has opposed any moves seeking forced eviction of Afghans.

However, Pakistan has clarified that the crackdown is against only those who are illegal immigrants. Those who have valid documents and refugee status need not to worry.

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When asked, a government official said the issue of deportation of illegal immigrants had nothing to do with the meeting of UNHCR in Geneva. “It has nothing to do with refugees. The UNHCR has always acknowledged our positive contribution,” the official added.

On Saturday, UNHCR and the International Organisation of Migration (IOM) offered their support to Pakistan in “developing a comprehensive and sustainable mechanism to register and manage Afghan nationals, including those who may be in need of international protection”.

Also read: Afghan exodus: could Pakistan’s ultimatum prove risky?

While appreciating Pakistan’s generous hospitality towards Afghan nationals for over four decades despite challenges, the international refugee and migration agencies appealed to the government of Pakistan to consider the human rights violations that might occur in their efforts for “forced repatriation of Afghan nationals”, including the separation of families and deportation of minors.

The UN agencies released a joint statement after Pakistan announced plans to deport around 1.75 million “illegal” and undocumented Afghan immigrants back to their home country. The statement highlighted the human rights challenges in Afghanistan, particularly for women and girls.

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“Such plans would have serious implications for all who have been forced to leave the country and may face serious protection risks upon return,” the statement read, adding that the Taliban-ruled country was facing a humanitarian crisis already.

However, the UNHCR and the IOM acknowledged Pakistan government’s sovereign prerogative over domestic policies, its need to manage populations on its territory, and its obligations to ensure public safety and security.

The UN agencies urged Pakistan to protect all vulnerable Afghans who had sought safety in the country and could be at imminent risk if forced to return.

The UNHCR and IOM called for Pakistan’s government to ensure that all return was “voluntary, safe, and dignified — without any pressure, to ensure protection for those who are seeking safety”.

They added that the agencies would continue to call on “all countries to suspend forcible returns of Afghan nationals”. On Thursday, October 5, the deportation of Afghan citizens living illegally in Pakistan kicked off as 16 trucks carrying 20 families reached the Torkham border.

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Pakistan

Father of girl killed for ‘honour’ arrested in Kohistan

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Police in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) on Tuesday arrested the father of the girl who was allegedly killed in the name of “honour” in Kohistan, officials said.

The suspect Arsala was presented before a local court which granted a seven-day physical remand. Three suspected accomplices, believed to have aided and advised the accused, have also been taken into custody.

On Sunday, a young girl was murdered and another rescued by the police in a case involving a viral video in which both the girls could be seen dancing with local boys.

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The girl was killed in the Barsharyal village of Kohistan’s Palas — 150km northwest of Mansehra — allegedly by her own family members on orders issued by a local jirga.

Read More: Husband held over honour killing of wife

The boys featured in the video, which went viral on social media around four days ago, had gone into hiding.

According to details, in the case registered under sections 114, 15AA, 302/311/109/34 PPC at Palas police station on November 28, 2023, the arrested suspect, Arsala, son of Mohsin, belonging to the Barsharyal tribe, was presented before the senior sessions judge/ Palas Assistant Commissioner.

Read More: CM orders inquiry into Kohistan girl’s killing

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The police had requested a 10-day physical remand for further investigation, but the judge approved a seven-day remand. The accused will be interrogated further in connection with the case.

Three other alleged accomplices in this gruesome murder have also been arrested. Among them, one is Arsala’s brother, one is his uncle’s son, and the third is a close relative. They have been apprehended on charges of abetment and will be presented before the court for physical remand.

Meanwhile, the boy, identified as Rahmat Shah, who featured in the viral images, has been rescued safely by the local police from Barsharyal.

The police had recorded his statement, and he will be presented in court for further legal proceedings.

Police teams are actively present in Barsharyal, conducting a thorough investigation into the matter.

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PM Kakar arrives in Kuwait on two-day official visit

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KUWAIT:

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Tuesday arrived in Kuwait on a two-day official visit to meet the brotherly country’s leadership.

Upon his arrival at the airport, Kuwait’s Minister for Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy Dr Jassim Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ostad received the prime minister, PM Office said in a press release.

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Pakistan Ambassador to Kuwait Malik Muhammad Farooq and other senior diplomatic officials were also present on the occasion.

Read more: Investment worth $10b on the cards

During his visit, the premier will meet Crown Prince of Kuwait Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Prime Minister Sheikh Ahmed Al-Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah.

During the visit, a new era of economic and economic cooperation between the two countries will begin. 

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A number of MoUs will be signed for mutual cooperation in various sectors including manpower, information technology, minerals and mining, food security, energy and defence, it was further added.

As a traditional Kuwaiti welcoming gesture, the caretaker prime minister was also presented “Kahwa” upon his arrival.

Earlier this month, the interim federal cabinet gave the nod to seven memorandum of understanding (MoUs) with Kuwait for an investment worth $10 billion.

The MoUs would be signed by PM Kakar during the visit.

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The MoUs will be inked for projects in various fields, including expansion of water reservoirs, mining facilities, protection and expansion of mangrove forests for coastal areas, investment in IT sector and food security.

The MoUs between the two countries became possible due to the efforts made by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), according to a statement issued by the PM Office earlier.

It added that the interim premier, who chaired the meeting in the federal capital, and his cabinet members appreciated the efforts of the SIFC and the relevant ministries.

The caretaker prime minister issued directions to the federal authorities concerned to ensure cooperation with the provinces for early and fair execution of the projects.

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Govt will support ECP in holding ‘fair polls’

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ISLAMABAD:

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information, Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Solangi Tuesday said under Article 218(3) of the Constitution, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) would fulfill its responsibility to conduct fair, transparent and impartial elections and the government would support it.

Talking to media in the federal capital, the interim minister noted that the Constitution comprised 280 articles, adding that it not only had the article pertaining to holding of elections in 90 days but also had Article 254.

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Read also: Caretaker govt has no agenda: Solangi

“Everyone in Pakistan has freedom to express opinion, complain and criticize,” he said.

The minister maintained that the PML-N also had the same liberty as of the PPP and the other parties.

He said Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar had apprised the people about his visit to the UAE on Monday night through a video message.



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