Islamabad, Nov 25 (NationPress) A number of Afghan migrants and female activists were reportedly assaulted and apprehended following a series of surprise nighttime raids by the Islamabad police in Argentina Park, according to Afghan media sources on Tuesday.

The police encircled the park without warning around 1:30 am, forcefully clearing out tents occupied by approximately 200 Afghan families and activists who had been residing there for roughly four months, as reported by Afghan media outlet Amu TV.

In a video statement, one migrant expressed, "They arrived, rounded everyone up, tore down all the tents, and loaded us into vehicles. Some children have sustained injuries. We have no idea where they are taking us."

Another activist, bearing injuries to her eye and forehead, claimed she was assaulted by police. "I stand here for women's rights, for human rights. I am an Afghan. I am a woman," Amu TV reported her saying.

The Afghan refugees and activists voiced that police threatened to forcibly send around 400 vulnerable families back to Afghanistan, raising alarms among human rights organizations that such actions violate international refugee protection standards.

Activists have called upon global human rights organizations and the media to amplify their voices for Afghan migrants, warning that ongoing silence on this issue equates to abandoning those whose only weapon is their plea for justice.

Last week, numerous Afghan refugees in Pakistan revealed they have been subjected to relentless pressure from local police, who are not only conducting searches but also arresting individuals and exploiting their vulnerable circumstances for financial gain.

A report from Afghanistan's 8AM Media, also known as Hasht-e-Subh Daily, underscored that Afghan refugees in Pakistan lack fundamental human rights and live in a state of constant fear and anxiety. Human rights organizations and refugee advocacy groups have remained largely silent regarding the uncertainty and the government's failure to uphold commitments to human rights and refugee protection.

In recent months, as tensions between Afghanistan and Pakistan have escalated, Islamabad has intensified its scrutiny of Afghan refugees, with local law enforcement carrying out widespread harassment daily in various locations, including Islamabad. In addition to official actions that result in the arrest of Afghan refugees without visas, individuals in civilian clothing have been extorting money from migrants in residential neighborhoods. Afghans report living in dire conditions rife with fear and anxiety, with their refugee rights being routinely disregarded.

"The situation is profoundly distressing. I wish the enforcement team would simply arrest and transport individuals away. This method is inappropriate; the police are aware that no one will report them, which is why they come individually for searches. Numerous men in civilian clothes lie in wait in the community, grab someone, and take them away. It remains unclear whether they are actual police, criminals, or working in collaboration with law enforcement," shared an Afghan national.

"These individuals detain migrants in their own vehicles; some are released immediately after paying bribes, while others are taken to police stations. They are likely police officers or colluding with the police. The level of theft and robbery is alarmingly high, and no institution listens to the people's voices. The situation is deeply painful; a country devoid of defenders where its citizens have no safety or credibility anywhere in the world," the refugee added.