Afghanistan Peace CampaignIn the meantime, Pakistan-based Afghan refugees complain about the ill-treatment of Pakistan’s police.
The experts including UN special rapporteur for Afghanistan, Richard Bennett, in a statement urged Pakistan’s government to protect Afghan refugees’ rights in accordance with international standards.
“We are also concerned by reports that Afghans living in Pakistan have been subjected to arrests, exploitation and undignified treatment, including since Pakistan announced its repatriation plans,” reads part of the statement.
“Pakistan’s government should reverse its decision of expelling illegal refugees, I suggest a joint commission of both countries to be established so that the problem of expelling Afghan refugees is resolved through diplomatic channels,” said Muhammad Khan Talibi Muhammadzai, a refugee rights’ activist.
In the meantime, Pakistan-based Afghan refugees complain about the ill-treatment of Pakistan’s police.
“About eighty percent of Afghan refugees living in Pakistan do not have visas, even those who hold visas cannot walk around cities freely,” said Seeros Azizi, a Pakistan-based Afghan refugee.
The Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation has also asked Pakistan’s government to stop arresting Afghan refugees and act in accordance with international laws.
“We ask them [Pakistan’s government] to stop such behavior and act with Afghan refugees in accordance with international laws. Those Afghan refugees who do not have documents should be returned based on a mechanism and voluntarily,” said Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation.
It comes as Pakistan’s caretaker government has given illegal refugees including Afghans an ultimatum to leave by October’s end or face forced repatriation.