As Pakistan intensifies the detention and forced deportation of Afghan migrants, growing numbers of Afghan nationals are turning to the Peshawar High Court in an effort to prevent deportation, extend their stay, or preserve their chances of resettlement in third countries.
Many migrants say that after the suspension of visa renewals, the increase in arrests, and the lack of response from administrative authorities, the Peshawar High Court has become the only legal institution still hearing their cases.
Among those seeking legal protection are journalists, former security personnel, civil society activists, artists, and families who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power. Many say their asylum or resettlement applications are still under review by third countries or international organizations, yet they continue to face the risk of arrest and deportation.
According to the migrants, many Afghan families have lived in Pakistan for years, and their children have grown up there. However, Pakistan’s stricter immigration policies have left their future uncertain and filled with anxiety.
According to the report, the Peshawar High Court has, in several cases, issued temporary orders suspending the deportation of Afghan migrants until their legal cases are fully reviewed. These rulings have provided temporary legal protection for individuals whose residency, asylum, or resettlement applications remain pending.
Afghan migrants say that turning to the court is no longer a choice but their last legal option to avoid deportation, as the suspension of visa renewals, widespread arrests, and the constant threat of removal have left thousands of families living in uncertainty and fear.
Source: Based on a published report and field accounts documenting the situation of Afghan migrants in Pakistan.