In a recent statement, Amnesty International has urged the Pakistani government to cancel its plan to repatriate “illegal migrants,” specifically targeting Afghan migrants and refugees.
The organization stated on its website that this plan would lead to the “arbitrary” and “forced” expulsion of Afghan migrants, exacerbating their suffering, and that this process must be halted.
The statement quoted Isabel Lassi, Deputy Director for South Asia at Amnesty International, saying: “The Pakistani government’s ruthless and unchangeable deadline, which is less than a week away, for the expulsion of Afghan refugees from two major cities, reflects a disregard for international human rights law, particularly the principle of non-refoulement. These vague executive orders not only violate the government’s promises but also demonstrate a lack of attention to repeated requests from human rights organizations to protect the rights of Afghan refugees.”
The statement also expressed concern about the relocation of Afghan citizens from Islamabad and Rawalpindi to other cities in Pakistan.
It should be noted that the Pakistani government has given all Afghan migrants and refugees until March 31 of this year to leave Islamabad and Rawalpindi. According to this deadline, holders of UNHCR registration cards will be transferred to other cities in Pakistan, while other migrants, including those with Afghan citizenship cards, will be expelled.
Human rights activist Manizha Kakar told Amnesty International that forcing Afghan migrants to relocate even within Pakistan is devastating for families.
She emphasized: “Many holders of the PoR card have lived here for decades. They are being asked to leave behind their homes, businesses, communities, and lives that they have built over the years.”
Amnesty International stated in part of its announcement that this relocation would cause many Afghan citizens who are supposed to be resettled in third countries to be moved away from cities and far from the embassies that promised them visas and travel documents.
The organization warned that this increases the risk of their expulsion due to greater difficulties in coordinating with these embassies, including the U.S. Embassy.
Additionally, the Deputy Director for South Asia at Amnesty International noted: “Pakistani authorities are violating the rights of Afghan refugees without any hindrance and subjecting them to arbitrary decisions that lack transparency and accountability.”
Referring to the expulsion of migrants from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, she stated that implementing this plan would undermine all efforts by migrants to rebuild their lives in Pakistan.
Amnesty International has called on Pakistan to cancel the plan to expel migrants and take corrective actions within the framework of international law.
