Stop Pakistan from deporting Afghans, UN urged

PESHAWAR (Pajhwok):  The United Nations has been urged to persuade Pakistan into halting the detention and forced deportation of Afghan asylum seekers.

In an open letter to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a coalition of civil society organisations called for the protection of Afghans who have valid documents and have moved asylum applications.

The Ending Violence against Women and Girls (EVAWG) Alliance called for a stop to action against Afghan women, children, the sick and the elderly.

The open letter questioned the Apex Committee’s decision on the deportation of undocumented foreigners, calling the body illegal and unconstitutional.

The move violated a cabinet decision made in Feb 2017 during the elected government of the PML-N, the alliance claimed, saying the Afghan women pursuing higher education, musicians, human rights defenders and media people were vulnerable and should not be deported.

It alleged the decision of the Apex Committee contravened the trilateral agreement among Pakistan, UNHCR and Afghanistan.

“It also violates international treaties ratified by Pakistan, recommendations put forward late last year by the Human Rights Committee of the National Assembly of Pakistan,” the letter added.

The thoughtless decision had triggered police campaigns against Afghan refugees across the country, resulting in widespread reports of harassment, bribery and extortion, the alliance noted.

mud

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