Pakistani police have detained Afghan journalist Seyed Qasim Hashemi on the Abbottabad-Islamabad highway, as reported by local media. The arrest occurred on Thursday around 12:19 pm, with no official statement released about the cause or Hashemi’s condition. Efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful, raising concerns among colleagues and friends.
In a recent trend, Pakistani authorities have been intensifying arrests and deportations of Afghan refugees, including journalists, as part of a broader crackdown on immigrants. This has drawn criticism from human rights organizations for the treatment of Afghan asylum seekers and journalists who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban’s resurgence in 2021.
Following the Taliban’s takeover, many Afghan journalists left the country due to fears of reprisals, censorship, and media restrictions. Seeking resettlement opportunities in Western nations, they relocated to neighboring countries like Pakistan and Iran. However, reports indicate that Afghan refugees in Pakistan have faced arbitrary arrests, mistreatment, extortion, and the looming threat of forced deportation.
The Afghanistan Media Support Organisation (AMSO) highlighted the challenges faced by Afghan migrants in Pakistan, citing instances of abuse, extortion, and lack of due process. The organization’s joint report with the World Organisation Against Torture, submitted to the United Nations Committee Against Torture, emphasized the need for individual risk assessments before deportations from Pakistan.
