Afghan migrants in Pakistan’s Balochistan province have filed a petition in the High Court to stop their forced deportation. They argue that all avenues for appeal have been closed, leaving legal action as their only option.
On 7 March, the Pakistani government ordered all undocumented Afghan migrants, including those holding Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), to leave the country by 31 March. Authorities warned that forced deportations would begin after the deadline. However, arrests and expulsions had already started in cities like Islamabad and Rawalpindi nearly two months ago.
Officials from the Afghan refugee council in Balochistan told Afghanistan International that a group of Afghan representatives, elders, and community leaders filed the lawsuit on 18 March.
Zahir Pashtun, one of the representatives, criticised Pakistan’s decision, calling it an unfair move targeting Afghan migrants during a time of crisis. He emphasised that Afghan refugees are not involved in criminal or terrorist activities.
“Afghan migrants have lived in Pakistan for nearly four decades. We cannot relocate our 40 years of life back to our homeland in just a few days,” he said.
Babrak, another Afghan refugee representative in Balochistan, stressed that many refugees have built businesses, farms, and homes in Pakistan. He noted that the short timeframe does not allow them to liquidate their assets and relocate. He also urged Pakistan to grant citizenship to Afghan refugees born in the country over the past 40 years.
The petitioners are calling for a comprehensive repatriation mechanism involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, the United Nations, and Afghan refugee representatives.
The Pakistani government estimates that around 800,000 Afghan refugees currently hold ACCs. Additionally, authorities have warned that Afghan migrants with Proof of Registration (PoR) cards will also face deportation after June this year.
With decades of life in Pakistan and inadequate facilities in Afghanistan, Afghan migrants now face an uncertain future.
