Pakistani Supreme Court Begins Hearings on Refugee Deportation Controversy
In an update on a contentious situation, the Pakistani Supreme Court has commenced hearings on several petitions challenging the mass deportation of Afghan refugees. The news was shared by one of the petitioners on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). Activists, politicians, and lawyers have submitted these petitions, expressing concerns about the government's decision to deport refugees lacking residential status.
In early October, the Pakistani government announced its intention to remove refugees without legal residency status, setting a deadline of November 1 for voluntary departure. According to the latest information, approximately 4.4 million Afghan refugees resided in Pakistan at the time, with around 1.7 million reporting an absence of valid documentation.
Since the government's announcement, Human Rights Watch has reported that over 375,000 refugees have returned to Afghanistan. Most individuals have decided to depart voluntarily due to fear of deportation, while around 20,000 have been forcibly displaced.
In recent weeks, reports have surfaced that Afghan refugees in Pakistan have faced harsh treatment from Pakistani authorities. Allegations include property seizures, extortion, threats, arbitrary detentions, and night-time raids.
In a heated response, the information minister of Baluchistan's border province announced the government's intention to intensify the deportation campaign. This initiative will be carried out a few months before the upcoming parliamentary elections in February, with the aim of having 1 million unregistered refugees depart the country by January. To reach this goal, the government plans to deport 10,000 refugees daily in Baluchistan alone.
Activists and human rights advocates have expressed disapproval of this decision, voicing public disapproval and calling upon the government to reconsider the forced deportation plans.
Further Reading
- Critics of the government's decision have raised concerns about the impact of mass deportations on the dislocated individuals and the potential implications for the region.
- Reflecting on the court hearings, the Pakistani government was questioned about the factors driving the decision to deport refugees without legal residency status and the deadline for voluntary departure.
- Human Rights Watch has documented instances of harsh treatment of Afghan refugees by Pakistani authorities, including property seizures and extortion, amid reports of threats, arbitrary detentions, and night-time raids.
- Despite public criticism and concerns from international organizations, the Pakistani government plans to intensify the deportation campaign before the parliamentary elections in February. More than 1 million unregistered refugees are expected to leave the country by January, with 10,000 refugees daily set to be deported in Baluchistan alone, near the Afghanistan border.
- Activists and human rights organizations have issued condemnations and openly criticized the government, urging them to reconsider the mass deportation plan to prevent humanitarian crises and possible security risks for the displaced individuals and the region.
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- Human Rights Watch has criticized the Pakistani government's decision to deport Afghan refugees, citing concerns about the treatment of refugees in Pakistan and the potential security risks for returnees in Afghanistan.
- United Nations refugee and migration agencies have voiced concerns about the Pakistani government's plans to deport Afghan refugees, urging Pakistan to uphold human rights standards and ensure due process for legal refugees.
- Amid international and local criticism, the Pakistani government has affirmed its intention to proceed with its deportation plans in the context of a multi-stage plan to relocate and deport nearly 3 million Afghan nationals, aiming to address the presence of unregistered residents in the country.
