KABUL: The Islamic Emirate ambassador to Pakistan Sardar Ahmad Shekib, urged the United Nations to take measures toward addressing the problems faced by Afghan migrants in the country.
The Islamic Emirate embassy in Islamabad said in a statement today that he made the remarks during a meeting with Philippa Candler, the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Pakistan.
Expressing concern over the arrests and mistreatment of Afghan migrants residing in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the IEA ambassador said: “The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) should defend the rights of Afghan migrants holding ACC, POR, and Sharp cards in Pakistan. The Pakistani police have been raiding the homes of migrants, detaining women and children, and even asking for bribes from those with visas and passports”.
Meanwhile, Philippa Candler also expressed concern regarding the harassment of Afghan migrants by Pakistani police and noted that similar complaints have been received.
“In the meetings with the officials from the Pakistani Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, I called for an end to the recent mistreatment of migrants,” the statement quoted Philippa Candler as saying.
It is important to note that over the past two weeks, Pakistani police have subjected Afghan migrants in Islamabad and Rawalpindi to severe harassment, torture and arrested hundreds.