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Repatriation of stranded Pakistanis hits snag

By Toufique Im rose Khalidi
With only three days to the end of the year, the agreed deadline for start to the stranded Pakistanis’ repatria lion, the home-going of even a token 50 families is clearly uncertain, leading to Frustration among the hopefuls living tn shanties for 21 years.
Officials at the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry and the Pakistan High Commission here yesterday gave ample Indications that the symbolic repatriation of 282 people of the 50 families by December 31 was far from a possibility.
The leaders of the refugees who wore black badges Sunday fearing a setback said yesterday that they were still hoping for the best.
"I won't say that there is no
uncertainty.” said a Bangladesh official.
"We are waiting for word from Islamabad.” said High Commissioner Anwar Kemal, who refused to confirm last night that the repatriation would not take place.
Kemal, reached by phone, however, sounded noncommit tai as he said that with only three days left "wc have logistical problems”.
"I don't say that It will not take place (by the stipulated December 31)", the High Commissioner evaded a direct reply but said that the reported visit of Punjab Chief Minister Golam Hyder Wync was unlikely within the next two days.
Wync, whose province
would be home to the returnees, told a delegation of the stranded Pakistanis December 12 that he would be In Dhaka to witness the symbolic repatriation of the 50 families.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif also said the same day that the process would start by this year end as promised ear Iler.
Because of what Pak authorities termed domestic problems, the first batch of would-be returnees was reduced Io a token 50 families from 3000 families, as announced during Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia's visit to Pakistan of a total 238000 refugees staying 1n 66 camps across Bangladesh.
The token repatriation was
planned to give credence to the commitment by Pakistan's highest political leadership that the process of taking the refugees to their cherished homeland would start by this
Islamabad said tn August that 3000 families would be taken initially for whom housing facilities were being made in selected areas of the Punjab province
Pakistan officials now say extensive floods in the province have delayed the completion of housing settle ments and therefore the repatriation in full swing would be deferred by a few months
Such as announcement tn Islamabad by a Pakistan mints-
fron. rage i o ter Thursday triggered frustration among the refugees.
According to the Bangladesh government official, the authorities here are prepared to send the 50 families off by December 31 and they arc awaiting a -response from the Pakistan government.
Until yesterday, there was no positive word from Islamabad, said the official speaking on condition of anonymity.
"But it is still possible to honour the deadline ... all II will require is only one special flight and that can be arranged by Pakistan," the official said.
On Wync's visit, the official said, there was no confirmation yet but "the invitation is there if he wants to cortw."
Nasim Khan, the leader of the refugees, claimed that a prominent Journalist In Pakistan had given him intimations Sunday that Wync was coming Wednesday (December 30).
He said that he had spoken to Majid Nizami, the Editor of Nawae Waqat and a member of the Citizens Committee formed to greet the returnees, by phone Sunday.
Meanwhile, the stranded Pakistanis have planned what Nasim Khan described "very colourful and meaningful" procession today to press home their demand for early, repatriation.
"Everybody will have something on his or her back," Khan emphasised his words — "colourful and meaningful."