ISLAMABAD: Over 650,000 Afghans living in Pakistan have been repatriated to their home country since the government launched a deportation drive last year, state broadcaster Radio Pakistan said on Monday, with at least 15,727 expelled in the last two weeks.
Until November before it began the deportation drive, Pakistan was home to over 4 million Afghan migrants and refugees, about 1.7 million of whom were undocumented. Afghans make up the largest portion of migrants, many of whom came after the Taliban took over Kabul in 2021, but a large number have been present since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
The expulsion drive was launched after a spike in suicide bombings since last year which the Pakistan government — without providing evidence — says mostly involves Afghans. Islamabad has also blamed them for smuggling and other militant violence and crime. At the time, cash-strapped Pakistan, navigating record inflation and a tough International Monetary Fund bailout program, also said undocumented migrants had drained its resources for decades.
Islamabad insists the deportation drive is not aimed specifically at Afghans but all those living illegally in Pakistan.
“According to the latest statistics, 15,727 Afghans returned to their country over the last two weeks,” Radio Pakistan said on Monday. ” With this, the figure of Afghan returnees has reached 653,154.”
Last week, the South Asian state decided to extend by a year the deadline of UNHCR-issued Proof of Registration (PoR) cards given to almost 1.5 million Afghans after the UN refugee commissioner asked for a pause in the country’s plan to repatriate refugees.
In October 2023, Pakistan announced phase one of the ‘Illegal Foreigners’ Repatriation Plan’ with a 30-day deadline for “undocumented” aliens to leave the country or be subject to deportation, putting 1.4 million Afghan refugees at risk.
In phase two of the ‘repatriation plan,’ around 600,00 Afghans who hold Pakistan-issued Afghan citizenship cards (ACCs) will be expelled while phase three is expected to target those with UNHCR-issued PoR cards.
The deportation drive has led to a spike in tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s crackdown on undocumented migrants has also drawn sweeping criticism from the United Nations, aid agencies and human rights groups.
Over 650,000 ‘illegal’ Afghans expelled from Pakistan since deportation drive began last year
https://arab.news/5qmed
Over 650,000 ‘illegal’ Afghans expelled from Pakistan since deportation drive began last year
- 15,727 Afghan nationals returned to Afghanistan in last two weeks, Radio Pakistan says
- Islamabad accuses Afghans of being behind spate of recent militant attacks in Pakistan
Pakistani stars Mahira, Fahad bring ‘Tom and Jerry’ slapstick to upcoming Eid flick
- “Aag Lagay Basti May” features Fahad Mustafa, Mahira Khan as on-screen couple who indulge in petty crimes
- Actor Mustafa, who also produces the film, describes the Eid flick as “entertaining, honest and modern”
KARACHI: Pakistani acting powerhouses Mahira Khan and Fahad Mustafa are set to mark their return on the silver screen this Eid Al-Fitr with “Aag Lagay Basti May,” with the actress describing their chemistry as somewhat similar to popular cartoon characters Tom and Jerry.
The film stars Khan and Mustafa in lead roles, with the latter essaying “Barkat,” an honest man who cringes at the very thought of crime and theft. Khan plays Almas, his partner, who has had enough of his honesty and wants to live a life of crime, and savor the spoils that come with it.
Written and directed by filmmaker Bilal Atif Khan, the film has been produced by ARY Films, Salman Films and also Mustafa. It stars veteran actor Javed Sheikh and popular comedian Tabish Hashmi in key roles.
The film revolves around Almas and Barkat as they turn to petty crimes to improve their standard of living. The couple partakes in crime, mostly at Almas’ prodding, and find themselves in hilarious situations. However, the plot thickens when crime bosses played by Sheikh and Hashmi get involved in the mix.
“Well, I think they are so cute,” Khan said about Almas and Barkat’s on-screen dynamic. “They are like Tom and Jerry, with me being Jerry and Fahad bechara [poor] being Tom.”
Mustafa and Khan, both superstars with several hit movies and drama serials to their credit, have worked before in the 2022 comedy film “Quaid-e-Azam Zindabad.”
This film, however, is very different. It features Khan in a different avatar of Almas, and takes place in a low-income neighborhood in Pakistan’s commercial hub Karachi.
Khan insists initially she thought she could not pull off the movie but later decided to drop another for it.
“My initial reaction was that there is no way I can do this,” she said, laughing. “But I do have to say that there was another film and then there was this, and I was like, if I had to do one of them, it has to be this.”
Khan said she approached Almas’ character by analyzing and tapping into her emotions.
“You first build the character with the look — getting the clothes right, the accent right, the way she talks,” she explained.
But beyond the physical transformation, she focused on the character’s motivations.
“Every time you see her, she has greed in her eyes,” the actress said. “You should see wanting more. It’s not enough to be in this basti [shack], it’s not enough to make this much money, it’s not enough to steal 500 or 1,000 rupees every day.
“Nothing is enough for her.”
Coming back to the on-screen duo, Khan said at times their relationship even resembled a criminal partnership of sorts.
“It’s like Bonnie and Clyde also,” she said, hinting at unexpected twists in the story.
Mustafa marks his debut as a producer with Aag Lagay Basti May. But what made him decide to produce the flick?
“For the love of the art, one has to give back to the industry,” he explained.
The Pakistani actor has high hopes from the movie and of it performing well on release.
“I think entertaining, honest and modern,” he said, describing the movie.
