In Karachi, the United Nations expressed its opposition on Tuesday to adeadline established for the eviction of over 1 million individuals labeledas “illegal immigrants” from the country.
They emphasized that any return of refugees should be voluntary and freefrom coercion. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) spokesman,Qaisar Khan Afridi, conveyed concerns about the plan to deport undocumentedAfghans and called for clarity from the government.
He urged Islamabad, which has generously hosted refugees for over 40 years,to establish a mechanism to prevent the deportation of Afghans withinternational protection. Afridi emphasized that many fleeing persecutionlack the necessary documents and travel permissions.
The UNHCR expressed readiness to assist Pakistan in creating a system tomanage and register those in need of international protection within itsborders. While acknowledging Pakistan’s long-standing role as a refugeehost, Afridi stressed the need for greater efforts to match its generosity.
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According to recent UN statistics, around 1.3 million Afghans areregistered refugees in Pakistan, with an additional 880,000 having legalstatus to stay. Authorities have arrested hundreds of Afghans, with over700 detained in Karachi alone since early September, according to policefigures.
