Afghan women refugees report mistreatment and police torture in Pakistan
Several immigrant women have reported experiencing mistreatment and, sometimes, even police torture during their brief stays in Pakistan.
The Pakistani government’s decision to expel Afghan refugees due to the ongoing mistreatment towards migrants has sparked international condemnation.
Recently, reports of mistreatment by the Pakistani police towards migrants have surfaced, and at least three immigrant women, including a journalist, have confirmed that they have experienced mistreatment and, in some cases, torture by the Pakistani police.
Samia, a woman with two children in Pakistan, is following her asylum case, and despite legally entering Pakistan with a valid visa for her stay, she has been threatened by the Pakistani police.
She told Khama Press News Agency, “I experienced [police mistreatment of migrants] myself a while ago, but I have heard from my friends that they are now harassing migrants a lot.”
About a month ago, Samia faced a police raid on her home while having dinner. The police examined all her documents and then, in a threatening tone, told her to leave her residence.
Since then, Samia has lived on the outskirts of one of Pakistan’s cities with her two children. She fears that the mistreatment by the Pakistani police may prevent her from pursuing her case.
Marziya, a 17-year-old girl whose father and brother were first detained and then expelled by the Pakistani police, now lives in Islamabad with her mother and younger sister.
Marziya says, “Everyone has experienced or witnessed at least one case of torture or mistreatment by the Pakistani police.”
For her, it is still unclear why the Pakistani police expelled her father and brother because their visa had two months left before expiration.
Freshta Azizi, an Afghan journalist, also confirmed two cases of mistreatment by the Pakistani police against herself. She, too, faced a late-night police raid on her home, and all her documents were scrutinized.
Freshta told Khama Press News Agency that the situation for women and girls in Pakistan is not great. However, she emphasized that immigrant men and boys in this country experience much worse conditions and are at risk of forced deportation.
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