Islamabad, May 29: Pakistani police have arrested Afghan journalist Syed Qasim Hashmi on the Abbottabad-Islamabad Highway. Local media reported this incident on Friday.
According to sources, Hashmi was taken into custody around 12:19 PM on Thursday. So far, Pakistani authorities have not issued any official statement regarding the reason for his arrest or his current condition.
Details about his whereabouts remain unclear. Fellow journalists and acquaintances are actively seeking information, but they have not yet succeeded.
In recent months, there has been a rise in the arrest of Afghan refugees in Pakistan, including journalists. This action is part of a broader campaign against illegal immigrants, raising concerns among human rights organizations.
Khama Press reported that on May 20, Pakistani police also arrested Afghan journalist Parvez Aminzada in Islamabad. Local sources indicated he was detained in the Faisal Town area.
Human rights organizations have expressed that since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, many journalists have fled the country due to fear, censorship, and increasing media restrictions. Many have sought refuge in neighboring countries like Pakistan and Iran, where they await resettlement opportunities in Western nations.
On May 8, the Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) stated that Afghan refugees in Pakistan face arbitrary arrests, abuse, extortion, and forced deportations.
According to AMSO’s report released on May 8, over 3.4 million Afghan migrants have been sent back from Pakistan and Iran since 2023. This action occurred during an intensified campaign against undocumented foreigners.
The report indicated that 68.3% of surveyed Afghans reported being arrested or detained, while 96.4% claimed they experienced abuse during their arrest or detention.
Additionally, 85.7% of respondents had to pay bribes to avoid arrest or secure their release. Furthermore, 75.6% reported threats, humiliation, and mental distress, while 72.4% were held for more than 48 hours without any legal hearings.
The report highlighted that no individual risk assessments were conducted prior to the deportation of any person from Pakistan.
AMSO noted that this report was prepared in collaboration with the World Organization Against Torture and presented to the United Nations Committee Against Torture. It was based on a survey of 41 Afghan citizens, six in-depth interviews, and documents from various organizations, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), International Organization for Migration (IOM), Amnesty International, and the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
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