RASC News Agency: In response to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party’s call for nationwide demonstrations marking the first anniversary of Pakistan’s general elections, the United Nations has urged Afghanistani refugees to refrain from participating in these protests. The UN has also advised Afghanistani nationals to distance themselves from political activities. PTI is set to hold a large-scale rally today, February 8, to commemorate the election anniversary. The demonstrations are expected to draw PTI supporters in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and several other regions.
The party has mobilized its followers across Pakistan to join the gathering. Initially, the rally was scheduled to take place at Minar-e-Pakistan in Lahore; however, citing security concerns, Pakistani authorities denied PTI’s request to hold the event at the iconic venue. Late on Friday, February 7, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a statement urging Afghanistani refugees in Pakistan to respect and abide by the country’s laws and regulations. The UN emphasized the importance of compliance with measures designed to uphold public order.
The statement underscored: “Refrain from engaging in political activities against your host country. Such actions may be deemed criminal offenses and could directly and negatively impact public perceptions of Afghanistani refugees in Pakistan.” Published in Persian, Pashto, Urdu, and English, the statement further advised Afghanistani refugees to avoid “disruptive behaviors” to safeguard their security and that of their children.
