Afghans living in Pakistan ‘concerned’ about their safety

Afghans in Pakistan said they have been living in fear for the past two days and have avoided going outdoors due to the unrest that gripped the country following former president Imran Khan’s arrest on Tuesday.

Speaking to Azadi Radio, one migrant in Pakistan, Abdul Basit, said: “Afghan immigrants who are here do not feel safe. Their concern is that they can neither return to their country, nor do they feel safe in Pakistan. One of the countries that takes the files and cases of Afghan immigrants, Afghans who are in danger here, we request that their cases be dealt with seriously as soon as possible.”

Afghans reported having their internet services disconnected following the arrest of Khan on Tuesday and men said they could not leave their wives and children at home alone.

Another Afghan, Abdul Rahman Karimi, told Radio Azadi about his family’s problems in Islamabad: “We can’t easily go to the market to buy goods, women are facing a lot of problems. Our children who used to be able to go to the market with women for now, they can’t. These problems are increasing every day. On the other hand, the problem of the internet being cut off and social networks not working, including Facebook and WhatsApp, are problems that we immigrants in Pakistan are facing.”

Imran Khan supporters demonstrated across the country following his arrest on Tuesday. In a bid to calm the situation, the Pakistan government deployed thousands of police and military personnel around the country to contain the unrest and blocked internet services in many areas.

But late Thursday, Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered Khan’s release, declaring his arrest “illegal”.

“The Supreme Court reversed all legal proceedings against Imran Khan … he has been asked to present himself in the Islamabad High Court on Friday morning,” lawyer Babar Awan told reporters.

Awan said the court ruled that Khan was now under its custody and not of the anti-graft agency, adding he would spend the night in the same police guest house as before with permission to see up to 10 people from friends and family.

It was not immediately clear when he would be allowed to go home.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (IEA), expresses deep concern and sadness regarding the recent developments in Pakistan, which have resulted in protests accompanied by instances of violence.

Hafiz Zia Ahmad Takal, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs IEA, stated that in light of the current situation, the Ministry has provided necessary instructions to its representatives to ensure the safety and security of #Afghan citizens residing in Pakistan.