AMJAD ALI SHAH

PESHAWAR: Afghan refugees from different parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have demanded of the Pakistan and Afghan governments to immediately remove the Director Afghan Refugees, Ministry of Afghan Refugees, Abdul Hamid Khalili over alleged involvement in corruption and misuse of authorities. The Afghan refugees warned that they would stage protest outside Afghanistan embassy and Parliament House in Islamabad, if this demand will no accept immediately.

Speaking at a news conference at Peshawar Press Club on Wednesday, the Afghan Refugees Union President, Hibaat Shah Pashtun said that instead of mitigating sufferings and problems of the Afghan Refugees, Abdul Hamid Khalil further added to their miseries by misusing authority and blaming for creating division among the Afghan refugees.

He said that there was no true representation of Afghan refugees in a Jirga led by Abdul Hamid Khalili, which met President of Afghanistan Ashraf Ghani. He further said the delegation included only supporters of Hamid Khalili.

The elders of Afghan refugees from Kohat, Akora Khattak, DI Khan, Haripur, Manshera, Abbottabad, Bannu, Nowshera, Mardan, Peshawar, including Abdul Bahadur, Sahar Gul, Qari Mohammad Khelil, Haji Eid Mohmmad, Mehmood Khan, and Haji Ammad were present during the press conference.

Pashtun said that Director Education for Afghan Refugees had removed on directives of Khalili to appoint a “blue-eyed” person on this important position. He alleged that he also given preference to own people and supporters in appointment of key positions in Afghan visa office, what he called “source of come” and agents to collect bribe for him.

He further alleged that funds of millions of rupees meant for promotion of education for Afghan children was embezzled by Abdul Hamid Khalili in support of his accomplice and Director Education. He also pointed out ghost teaching staff in Afghan Education department and withdrawing of salaries on their names by Khalili.

The Afghan Refugees Union president said Director Afghan Refugees Abdul Hamid Khalili is not true preventative of the refugees, which had completely failed to resolve the issues, being faced by the Afghan refugees, staying in different parts of the KP province.

He praised the Government of Pakistan, UNHCR and other donor agencies for prolonged hosting of Afghan refugees along with provision of financial assistance and livelihood during their stayed in the region.

He further mentioned that the appointment in new established Afghan centre in Islamabad and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were made on favouritism and nepotism, which was not acceptable.

He urged the Pakistan and Afghan governments as well as UNHCR, and Afghan Commissionerate to immediate remove the Director Afghan Refugees Abdul Hamid Khalili over alleged misuse of authority and corruption in funds.

He warned that Afghan refugees would not visit to their respective Centre until the removal of the corrupt officials from their positions.

He also threatened that if their demands could not accept, they would send a delegation, comprising Ulema, elders, and representatives of the Afghan refugees, to stage a sit-in outside Presidential House in Afghanistan. While, he said the protest would also be held in front of Afghan Embassy and Parliament House in Islamabad.