A Pakistani court has intervened to halt the deportation of 150 Afghan musicians and singers for a minimum of two months. The court has directed authorities not to expel or compel them to return home until their asylum applications are processed. These individuals are part of the half a million Afghans who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover in 2021. Pakistan, like many other nations, has not recognized the Taliban government in Afghanistan due to concerns over their strict measures, particularly regarding the rights of women and minorities.
The legal battle for the Afghan performers was led by a defense lawyer who described the court order as a significant relief for his clients. The crackdown on migrants in Pakistan, which began in 2023, has raised uncertainties for many individuals. The United Nations agencies have criticized the forced expulsions of Afghans, warning of potential human rights violations such as family separations and deportations of minors.
Over the past 18 months, Pakistan has deported over 800,000 Afghans who were residing in the country without proper documentation. The recent court order mandates Pakistan to make decisions on the asylum applications of the 150 Afghan musicians and singers within the next two months. Additionally, these individuals have the opportunity to register with the U.N. refugee agency to seek refugee status.
One of the Afghan singers expressed gratitude towards the court, emphasizing the risks faced by musicians and singers if they were to be sent back to Afghanistan. Afghan refugees have been permitted to stay in Pakistan until June 2025, as per a government order issued last year. Pakistan has a long history of hosting Afghan refugees, with an estimated 1.7 million individuals having sought refuge in the country during the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan from 1979 to 1989.
