Human Rights Watch (HRW) strongly criticised Pakistan's deadline for the deportation of migrants. The organisation said that the Pakistani government uses threats, abuse, and detention to coerce asylum seekers.
Fereshta Abbasi, Afghanistan researcher at Human Rights Watch, said, "Pakistan’s announced deadline for Afghans to return has led to detentions, beatings, and extortion, leaving thousands of Afghans in fear of their future."
She warned that the situation in Afghanistan remains dangerous for many of those who fled from the country, and their deportation exposes them to significant security risks.
Earlier, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior warned Afghans without legal documentation to leave the country voluntarily before November 1.
The government of Pakistan has announced that it is sticking to its plan and from Wednesday, November 1, it will take measures against people who are staying illegally in the country, including the confiscation of all movable and immovable assets.
An Afghan refugee in Islamabad who worked as a sports journalist in Kabul told Human Rights Watch that since Pakistan's warning, even Afghans registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are not immune to detention or deportation.
"There are police checkpoints everywhere," he said. "Even if you have a valid visa, you will still be transferred to the police station, and in most cases, you need to pay a bribe to get released."
According to him, in most cases, Afghan refugees must pay a bribe between USD 36 to USD 144 to the Pakistani police.
Human Rights Watch stressed that the government of Pakistan should end the police abuse of Afghan refugees and stop forced deportations.
This organisation asked Pakistan to cooperate with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to resume the registration of Afghan refugees.
Human Rights Watch also asked the United States, UK, Germany, and Canada to speed up the resettlement of Afghans at risk, including human rights activists, journalists, the LGBTQ community, women, and girls.
