Pakistan Government Issues Orders for Arrest and Deportation of Afghan Refugees as Deadline Approaches
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Synopsis
As the deadline for Afghan Citizen Card holders expires, Pakistan's government has ordered law enforcement to detain and deport Afghan refugees. This action has sparked concern among the Afghan community and calls for international intervention.
Key Takeaways
- Deadline for Afghan Citizen Card holders is approaching.
- Authorities in Islamabad and Rawalpindi directed to evacuate Afghan refugees.
- UNHCR expresses concerns over the impact on Afghan communities.
- Afghan refugees have lived in Pakistan for decades.
- Human Rights Watch condemns forced deportations.
Islamabad, March 31 (NationPress) Pakistan's law enforcement agencies have been instructed to detain and deport numerous Afghan refugees as the government’s deadline for holders of the Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) expires on Monday, according to local media reports.
The authorities, especially in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, have mandated the immediate removal of all Afghan refugees.
The police chief in Rawalpindi has ordered the superintendents of the Rawal, Potohar, and Saddar divisions to take legal measures against Afghan nationals residing or working within the district, as reported by Pakistan’s prominent daily, Dawn.
“We have been instructed that all Afghan nationals holding ACC cards must be expelled from Rawalpindi and Islamabad,” a police official informed Dawn.
Furthermore, the directives specify that Afghans bearing Proof of Registration (PoR) cards residing in the twin cities must also depart Pakistan in accordance with government policy.
The deadline for PoR cardholders to exit the country is set for June 30, 2025.
Philippa Candler, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Representative to Pakistan, remarked on Sunday that the nation’s decision to expel hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees has “shaken” the Afghan community, as their dreams and aspirations have been dashed.
She called on the international community to assume greater responsibility.
“Last week, I visited an Afghan family that sought refuge here in 2022 after fleeing Afghanistan rapidly, leaving everything behind in pursuit of safety. It was heart-wrenching to witness their fear of being forced to return,” Candler expressed.
“The latest directives from the Pakistani government signify a considerable disruption to many communities. Displacement from welcoming communities and a potential enforced return to Afghanistan, with little opportunity for planning a way to rebuild their lives there, are unlikely to be sustainable,” she added.
Recently, several refugees who have resided in Pakistan for over four decades have once again appealed to the government for an extension of their stay.
Zabit Khan, an Afghan refugee who has lived in Islamabad for almost forty years, stated that he has developed a business over the years, and expulsion from Pakistan could severely disrupt his life, as reported by Afghan media outlet TOLO news.
“Give us time because we cannot suddenly relocate our business. We’ve worked here for over forty years and established relationships with people. This will create significant issues for us,” Khan pleaded.
Earlier, the US-based advocacy organization Human Rights Watch criticized Pakistan for the forced deportation of Afghan refugees.
“Pakistani officials should immediately cease coercing Afghans to return home and provide those facing expulsion the chance to seek protection,” stated Elaine Pearson, Asia Director at Human Rights Watch.
