Amnesty International has called for the immediate cancellation of the plan to expel Afghan migrants from Pakistan through a statement.
The organization quoted one of its refugees and migrants campaigners as saying, this plan violates international human rights laws and refugee laws, and is against all international norms.
“The Pakistan authorities’ callous disregard for the persecution, serious human rights violations and humanitarian catastrophe that await Afghan refugees if deported to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan is heart-breaking. Instead of heeding repeated global calls to halt deportations, the newly elected Pakistani government has disappointingly now extended the deportation drive to Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders as well,” said James Jennion
On the other hand, the Islamic Emirate's consulate in Pakistan has also reported the release of over 50 Afghan migrants and their return to the country.
Sayed Abdul Jabbar Takhari, the acting consul of the Islamic Emirate in Pakistan’s Karachi said: "Currently, we have around fifty detainees in the prisons of Sindh state. Efforts are ongoing to get them released and returned to country as soon as possible."
As the expulsion of the second round of Afghan migrants from Pakistan is about to begin, some Afghan migrants in that country are worried about their uncertain future.
They criticize the arrest and beating of Afghan migrants by the Pakistani police.
Stanikzai, an Afghan migrant in Pakistan, said: "This is an injustice to us. Whatever agency does this, whether the Pakistani government or the Afghan government, it's an injustice. Our request from everyone is to show mercy on us, we want to return to our homeland at the right time."
Shinwari, another Afghan migrant in Pakistan, says: "This is bad news for Afghan migrants because our businesses are here, and we cannot wrap everything up in a short time."
The first phase of expelling undocumented Afghan migrants from Pakistan began in November 2023, and the second phase, under the name of the repatriation plan which also includes those holding citizenship cards, is set to start on April 10th of the current year.
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