The Pakistani authorities should instantly cease the continuing detentions, deportations and widespread harassment of Afghan refugees, Amnesty Worldwide mentioned immediately.
“Hundreds of Afghan refugees are getting used as political pawns for repatriation to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, the place their lives and bodily integrity may very well be in danger amid an intensifying human rights crackdown and an ongoing humanitarian disaster. Nobody must be subjected to mass pressured deportations and Pakistan would do effectively to recollect its worldwide authorized obligations, together with the precept of non-refoulement,” mentioned Livia Saccardi, deputy regional director for South Asia campaigns at Amnesty Worldwide.
“If the Pakistani authorities doesn’t cease deportations instantly, it would deny hundreds of weak Afghans, particularly girls and women, entry to safety, schooling and livelihoods.”
Hundreds of Afghan refugees are getting used as political pawns for repatriation to Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, the place their lives and bodily integrity may very well be in danger.
Livia Saccardi, Deputy Regional Director for South Asia Campaigns at Amnesty Worldwide
In keeping with the federal government, greater than 170,000 Afghans, a lot of whom have lived in Pakistan for many years, have been pressured to depart the nation since September 17 as the federal government issued an ultimatum to all “unregistered foreigners” to depart Pakistan. Because the November 1 deadline set by the Pakistani authorities, police have moved from registering circumstances below the Aliens Act of 1946, which, amongst different issues, criminalizes unlawful entry into Pakistan, to arresting refugees deemed “unlawful.” are thought of to be detained immediately in deportation facilities.
Amnesty Worldwide is anxious in regards to the full lack of transparency, due course of and accountability in final week’s detentions and deportations. This has been exacerbated by rising circumstances of harassment and hostility in the direction of Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
“We got no data”
In keeping with the federal government, 49 detention facilities (additionally known as “retention” or “transit” facilities) have been arrange throughout Pakistan, and presumably extra. These deportation facilities weren’t arrange in accordance with any particular legislation and run parallel to the authorized system. Amnesty Worldwide has confirmed that a minimum of seven detention facilities don’t present detainees with authorized rights, resembling the precise to a lawyer or communication with relations. Such facilities violate the precise to freedom and a good trial. Moreover, no data is launched, making it tough for households to find their family members.
Maryam*, an Afghan activist in Islamabad, informed Amnesty Worldwide that on November 2, a number of Afghan refugees have been arrested at Shalimar police station and “these with out papers have been despatched for deportation, whereas their relations obtained no details about the place they have been taken or once they have been introduced.” can be deported.”
These with out papers have been despatched for deportation, whereas their relations got no details about the place they have been being taken or once they can be deported
Maryam*, an Afghan activist in Pakistan
In a separate incident, a 17-year-old boy was arrested in a raid at Sohrab Goth in Karachi on November three. Though he was born in Pakistan, had a UNHCR-issued Proof of Registration (POR) card and was a minor, his household was not allowed entry to the detention heart. He was deported the subsequent day and his actual whereabouts stay unknown.
Amnesty Worldwide has confirmed with journalists throughout Pakistan that the media was additionally not granted entry to those facilities, elevating questions of transparency.
Junaid*, an Afghan refugee who was held for greater than 4 hours on the Khayaban-i-Sir Syed detention heart in Islamabad on November three, mentioned the middle’s lack of translators who might talk in Dari or Pashto made it tough for detainees Understanding complicated documentation points.
“We reside in fixed worry”
“There’s a sense of worry within the Afghan neighborhood…we reside in fixed worry and lock our doorways every time we hear police vehicles within the space,” Junaid mentioned.
A number of circumstances of harassment have been additionally reported to Amnesty Worldwide. At the very least 12 small enterprise house owners who had legitimate Afghan citizen ID playing cards have been detained at Nishtar Colony and Backyard City police stations in Lahore for greater than 24 hours on November 1 with out being produced in court docket or and not using a First Info Report (FIR) being filed towards them grew to become. On October 24, Afghan merchants in Akbari Mandi in Lahore have been looked for paperwork by plainclothes individuals who claimed to be law enforcement officials who had confiscated Rs 100,000. 500,000 in money.
There’s a feeling of worry within the Afghan neighborhood. We reside in fixed worry and lock our doorways every time we hear police vehicles within the space.
Junaid*, an Afghan refugee in Pakistan
Because the deadline was introduced, warnings have been communicated via leaflets, loudspeakers in native mosques and statements that anybody harboring undocumented Afghan refugees might be fined or arrested. Farah*, a Peshawar-based journalist, defined that whereas most Afghans are turned away, “landlords who provide concessions cost 5 occasions the hire they might usually pay.”
A number of because the starting of October Kachi Abadis (casual settlements) housing Afghan refugees have been demolished by the Capital Growth Authority (CDA) in Islamabad. These demolitions have been carried out with out due course of or warning as a result of casual settlements have restricted property rights, leading to properties being destroyed whereas belongings have been nonetheless inside.
“I am positive I will be killed if I’m going again”
In keeping with the Pakistan-Afghan Worldwide Discussion board of Journalists, round 200 Afghan journalists are in danger in Pakistan. Asad*, an Afghan journalist who has been in hiding in Pakistan because the Taliban got here to energy in 2021, mentioned: “Though I entered Pakistan with a legitimate visa and utilized for an extension, I haven’t got to indicate something to the authorities if they arrive ahead present up at my entrance door. I haven’t despatched my youngsters to high school for 2 weeks…”
Asad and his household fled Afghanistan in 2021 when his mates and colleagues have been murdered after the Taliban got here to energy. “I’m on a number of Taliban lists and I’m positive I might be killed if I’m going again,” he mentioned.
I’m on a number of Taliban lists and am positive I might be killed if I return
Asad*, an Afghan journalist hiding in Pakistan
Many ladies in Afghan-majority settlements reside in excessive and fixed worry. Human rights lawyer Moniza Kakar, who represents circumstances of Afghan refugees in Karachi, mentioned: “Many ladies sleep utterly coated (veiled) as a result of they’re afraid of evening police raids by male law enforcement officials.”
Pakistani girls married to Afghan refugees are additionally at elevated threat of deportation because of a scarcity of correct documentation. As a result of cultural and financial limitations, girls in Pakistan usually lack entry to computerized nationwide id playing cards (CNICs), and electoral rolls report a gender hole of 10 million.
Amnesty Worldwide has been documenting the Taliban’s draconian and systematic suppression of the rights of ladies and women for greater than two years.
Many ladies sleep utterly coated (veiled) as a result of they’re afraid of nighttime police raids by male law enforcement officials
Moniza Kakar, human rights lawyer representing Afghan refugees in Pakistan
Afghan refugees belonging to non secular minorities face extra intersectional challenges because of deportations and the double risk of persecution upon return. An activist working with Christian refugee communities in Islamabad, Chaman and Quetta mentioned a shelter housing a dozen Christian refugee households needed to be closed following police raids.
“Pakistan should adjust to its obligations below worldwide human rights legislation to make sure the security and well-being of Afghan refugees inside its borders and instantly cease deportations to forestall additional escalation of this disaster.” “The federal government, along with UNHCR, should “Expedite registration of candidates looking for refuge in Pakistan, notably girls and women, journalists and members of minority and ethnic communities, as they face elevated dangers,” mentioned Livia Saccardi.
If the Pakistani authorities doesn’t cease deportations instantly, it would deny hundreds of weak Afghans, particularly girls and women, entry to safety, schooling and livelihoods.
Livia Saccardi