Case filed against three policemen for ‘harassing’ migrants amid Pakistan deportation drive

KARACHI: A case has been registered against three policemen in the southern Pakistani city of Karachi over accusations they “harassed” migrants, as the government continues with its crackdown on illegal foreigners in the country.
Pakistan on Oct. 3 announced its policy to deport thousands of undocumented Afghans and other foreign citizens after Nov. 1, citing rising security concerns amid an uptick in militant attacks. Since then, more than 400,000 Afghans have returned to their home country, according to both Pakistani and Afghan officials.
Though Pakistan insists its deportation drive is not targeting Afghans but all foreigners living in the country without valid documents, the policy has disproportionately hit Afghans who make up the largest population of migrants in Pakistan, over four million, with at least 1.7 million of them undocumented.
Pakistani officials have said foreigners with documents won’t be asked to leave under the new policy but many Afghans have complained of harassment, intimidation and even arrests despite having valid documents.
“A case has been registered against three policemen including a sub-inspector in Sait Super Highway police station,” Sindh police said, referring to an incident of “harassment of documented foreigners reported on social media.”
“No policeman or officer will ever be allowed to harass any citizen or foreigner.”
This is the first time since the start of the crackdown on Oct. 3 that Pakistani authorities have taken action over reported harassment of migrants.
In the 1980s, millions of Afghans fled to neighboring Pakistan during the Soviet occupation of their country. The numbers witnessed a spike after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.