My home for an army base?: Afghan refugees in Mattani refuse to relocate empty-handed

Afghan refugees. PHOTO: AFP

PESHAWAR: 

Afghan refugees residing in Mattani refugee camp have voiced deep concern over the directive to vacate an 18-acre plot of land where around 50 houses are located. The refugees have refused to move out without receiving financial compensation in return.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Haji Rehmatullah, one of the camp elders, said there were around 450 people currently residing in the 50 houses under question. The same locality also houses a hospital, a small market, a school and two mosques.

Rehmatullah admitted the plot of land actually belongs to the Pakistan Army. Two years ago, the refugees negotiated with army representatives with help from the Afghan Embassy, and were given permission to set camp at the site.

“During the negotiations, it was also agreed that in case we were made to shift from the area, for every room we vacate, we will be given Rs20,000 in compensation. This was in addition to the promised plots of land for every affected person to relocate and build his own house. However, the police have ordered us to vacate the land because the army intends on building a base here,” claimed the elder.

He added authorities in the Commissionerate Afghan Refugee, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa were taking the issue personally.

“It is not possible for us to relocate in 72 hours and we have conveyed our concerns to the police. We are poor people, and we will resist any forced attempts at evacuation,” said another elder, Pir Muhammad.

Mattani camp no5 houses a population of around 8,000 people and was established 32 years ago. Most residents of the area hail from Nangarhar in Afghanistan.

“We are not the kind of people who can be accused of being involved in any crime in the district. However, if the police harbour suspicions they should share their observations with us,” he remarked.

Pir Muhammad added people based at the camp are extremely poor, whereas, he claimed, the rich among them had already moved out, mostly to Hayatabad, decades ago.