Pakistani police detained Afghan journalist Parwiz Aminzada in Islamabad as part of actions against Afghan nationals. Aminzada was apprehended in the Faisal Town area of Islamabad on Wednesday evening. The reasons for his arrest have not been disclosed by authorities yet.
In recent times, Pakistani authorities have been intensifying arrests and deportations of Afghan refugees, including journalists. This crackdown on immigrants has drawn criticism from various rights groups. The Afghanistan Media Support Organisation highlighted mistreatment, arbitrary arrests, extortion, and the looming threat of forced deportation faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
The AMSO’s report indicated a significant number of Afghan migrants deported from Pakistan and Iran since 2023 due to increased crackdowns on undocumented foreigners. Shockingly, a high percentage of surveyed Afghans reported being arrested or imprisoned, with many detainees facing abuse during their detention. Additionally, a substantial portion of respondents had to pay bribes to avoid arrest or secure their release.
The AMSO, in collaboration with the World Organisation Against Torture, presented the report to the United Nations Committee Against Torture. The findings, based on a survey of 41 Afghan nationals and in-depth interviews, shed light on the dire situation faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Organizations like the UNHCR, IOM, Amnesty International, and the HRCP contributed to the documentation used in the report.
