Around 2.7 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan's southern Sindh province would be sent back this year, a top official said today, as authorities have decided to crack down on illegal foreign residents.
"The apex committee on terrorism in Sindh has decided that these 2.7 million Afghan refugees will be sent back home this year," Provincial interior secretary Abdul Kabir Qazi said.
The refugee camps, until their return, would be set up outside the Karachi city, he said, adding that as per the figures available, some 2.7 million Afghan refugees and nationals were based in Sindh province.
The government has decided that in future, no Mosque, place of worship or Madrassa can be constructed or established without the government's permission, Qazi said.
"A law will be passed for this purpose," he added.
"As part of our anti-terrorism drive, we will also be setting up separate jails and detention centres for militants in Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur," he announced.
Law enforcement agencies blame the influx of Afghan refugees and their camps inside and on the outskirts of Karachi for the deteriorating law and order situation in the province.
