The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) has called on the government to immediately rescind the November 1 deadline provided to undocumented foreigners for departing the country, according to a report by The News.
During a consultative session in the federal capital, HRCP Chairperson Hina Jilani emphasized that a uniform solution cannot be universally applied to all refugees and asylum seekers without considering each applicant’s unique needs.
“Even in the absence of an official refugee policy, Pakistan remains bound by international customary law,” she stated, stressing that when implementing such a policy, humanitarian concerns should take precedence over security issues.
HRCP council member Farhatullah Babar argued that the absence of specific Pakistani refugee laws should not excuse the failure to protect their rights, especially given Pakistan’s commitments under its trilateral agreement with Afghanistan and the UNHCR.
He suggested the establishment of a national refugee council to serve as a liaison between the government and refugees, enabling the latter to voice their concerns.
Dr. Saba Gul Khattak underscored the importance of accurate and publicly accessible data regarding the number of refugees and asylum seekers to facilitate equitable needs assessments.
