Pakistani Court Halts Deportation of Afghan Musicians and Singers

Pakistani Court Suspends Deportation of Afghan Musicians and Singers

In a significant ruling, a Pakistani court has temporarily halted the deportation of 150 Afghan singers and musicians, allowing them to remain in the country for at least two months. The court’s decision mandates that the authorities refrain from expelling or forcing the performers to return to Afghanistan until their asylum applications are processed.

These Afghan artists, along with many others, fled their homeland following the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. Since then, over half a million Afghans have sought refuge in neighboring Pakistan, which, like the rest of the international community, has yet to recognize the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. The Taliban has imposed stringent policies, especially targeting women and minorities, which have raised global concerns.

Mumtaz Ahmed, the lawyer representing the Afghan musicians, expressed relief over the court’s ruling, calling it the first of its kind in their case. “This is a big relief for my clients who have lived in uncertainty ever since Pakistan launched a crackdown on illegal migrants in 2023,” Ahmed told The Associated Press. Since the crackdown began, Pakistan has deported over 800,000 Afghans who were living in the country without valid documents. The deportations have drawn widespread criticism from international bodies, including the United Nations, who warned that the forced expulsions could lead to serious human rights violations, including family separations and the deportation of minors.

Heshmat Ali, an Afghan singer who is among the 150 performers involved in the case, expressed his relief. “I am very happy, and we are grateful to the court. We hope now we will not face any harassment and forced expulsions,” he said. Ali, like many others, fears for his safety and the safety of his fellow musicians if they are sent back to Afghanistan.

In addition to the court ruling, the Afghan musicians and singers have been given the opportunity to register with the United Nations refugee agency, seeking official refugee status. Pakistan’s government has also allowed Afghan refugees to remain in the country until June 2025, following an order issued last year.

Pakistan has long been home to a large Afghan refugee population, with an estimated 1.7 million Afghans residing in the country since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in the 1980s. Despite the challenges faced by Afghan migrants, many continue to live in Pakistan, seeking refuge from ongoing instability in their homeland.

The court’s decision marks a rare moment of legal protection for Afghan artists, who would face serious threats to their freedom and safety if forced to return to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan.

Sources By Agencies

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