Complaints arise over harassment of documented refugees

PESHAWAR: Complaints have surfaced regarding the harassment of Afghan refugees with valid registration cards during police actions against undocumented immigrants.

While officials maintain that no action is intended against refugees with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards or Afghan Citizen Cards, lower-ranking staff reportedly continue to bother refugees having all the necessary documents.

Zahoor, an Afghan refugee from Ring Road: “My son was arrested from the naanbai shop and was kept in lockup despite showing the cops his valid PoR card. He was released after a few hours.”

Several other refugees echoed similar complaints against junior police officers.

Government and senior officials emphasise that actions were solely launched against undocumented foreigners.

They have instructed the police to be considerate and not disturb those with PoR or ACCs.

An official, when contacted, said that there have been no significant complaints regarding harassment of documented refugees.