The Station House Officer and an administrative officer from Islamabad’s Shalimar Police Station have been suspended amid allegations of confiscating and failing to return the belongings of Afghan refugees.
These allegations came to light after the detention of 20 Afghan nationals during a Counter-Terrorism Department operation, amid claims that their personal items, including cash and phones, were taken.
The matter gained public attention when the detainees, awaiting transfer to a holding center before deportation, reported that their property had not been returned. This concern was amplified by discussions on social media.
The controversy unfolds against the backdrop of the Taliban’s admonishment of Pakistan over its treatment of Afghan refugees.
Taliban minister Mohammed Yaqoob Mujahid has criticized the harsh policies, stating, “The regime in Pakistan should not be cruel to the Afghans, not seize their personal property and assets.” He urged that deportations, if they must occur, should be conducted with dignity, and called for UN assistance in addressing the crisis.
With the anti-migrant policy already impacting the bilateral relationship, Mujahid warned, “The Pakistani regime should think of the consequences of whatever it is doing. It should sow as much as it will be able to reap.”