‘Only the Poor Are Picked’: Afghan Families in Pakistan Caught in Deportation Drive

As Pakistan continues to send undocumented Afghan migrants back to Afghanistan, it’s the poor who are being hit the hardest.

In Karachi and other cities, police are arresting low-income Afghan families, many of whom have been living in Pakistan for decades. Meanwhile, wealthy Afghans, including business owners, are often left alone.

“Only the Poor Are Being Picked”

According to the report by The Express Tribune, Abdul Rehman and Mohammad Khan spoke to talked about their relatives who were recently detained in Karachi. “They are poor and earn daily wages to feed their families,” they said. “The police arrested them near Sohrab Goth. They didn’t even have money for lunch that day. The rich are not being touched — only the poor are taken to meet deportation targets.”

“My Children Were Born Here”

Mohammad Tahir, an Afghan who runs a hotel in Karachi, said he came from Kunduz, Afghanistan, 35 years ago. Now, he has six children — all born and raised in Karachi. “My children have never even seen Afghanistan. Many Afghan families have married into local communities here. How can they be sent away just like that?” he asked.

Read More- Second Round of Job Cuts Managed by Parent Company JCPenney: Layoffs to 9% of Corporate Staff

Lawyer Raises Concerns

Moniza Kakar, a human rights lawyer, said most people being deported are laborers, especially from vegetable markets. “Even those with proper documents are being picked up in Karachi. The majority are poor,” she said.

Deportation Numbers Rising

After the March 31 deadline, the government launched a nationwide operation to deport Afghan Citizen Card holders. Sindh Police data shows around 300 Afghans are being deported from Karachi every week.

Officials say around 16,000 Afghan Citizen cardholders live in Sindh, mainly in Karachi. But community members say the real number is much higher — many families have been here for generations. Afghan community leader Maulana Rahimullah recently shared this at a press briefing in Karachi.

Some Living Without Documents

Many Afghans living in Karachi don’t have any official documents. Some entered the country illegally or with fake papers and have since built businesses and settled their families.