United Nations experts, including Richard Bennett, special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Afghanistan, in a joint statement asked Pakistan to stop deporting 1.4 million Afghan refugees and migrants.
According to Kabul 24; The Pakistani government recently announced that all “undocumented” foreign nationals must leave the country by November 1, or face deportation.
UN experts said the decision will affect more than 1.4 million Afghan citizens, including many who have fled to Pakistan seeking safety and protection due to serious concerns over human rights violations and the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan.
These experts expressed concern about the risk of repatriating Afghan citizens, including many families, women and children, and said that many of them will face irreparable harm such as serious human rights violations in their country.
They said: “We ask Pakistan to respect the absolute and inviolable principle of non-refoulement and prevent mass deportation and forced return.”
UN experts have added that the lack of internal asylum laws and procedures does not release countries from their obligations to comply with the principle of non-refoulement according to international human rights and customary laws.
According to them, the ban on returning [migrants and asylum seekers] is explicitly included in the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, to which Pakistan is a party.
“Pakistan should stop all forced returns and continue to host Afghan nationals who have fled for safety,” experts said.
These experts have expressed concern about the reports of detention and exploitation of migrants in Pakistan and their illegal treatment.
United Nations experts added that women, girls, elderly people, as well as officials and security personnel of the former Afghan government, human rights defenders, other civil society activists and media workers should be given priority in protecting people.
They appreciated Pakistan’s hosting of Afghan citizens over many years and requested the international community and UN member states to continue facilitating the resettlement of citizens at risk in other countries and support them.
Earlier, human rights organizations protested Pakistan’s decision to deport Afghan refugees and migrants, but Pakistani officials say they are serious about their decision.
