PESHAWAR: Participants at a consultative discussion held to mark World Refugee Day on Saturday called for the formulation of a comprehensive refugee policy and stronger legal protections for refugees residing in Pakistan.
The event was jointly organised by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and the Peshawar High Court Bar Association on the premises of the bar association. Lawyers, human rights activists, representatives of international organisations, members of civil society and Afghan refugees attended the event.
PHC Bar Association president Aminur Rehman Yousafzai, HRCP representatives, advocates Tariq Afghan, Hanif Afridi, Fida Gul, Danish Afridi, Afsarullah Dawar and Spogmai Sohail, UNHCR representative Sahibzada Younas and SHARP representative Javed Safi.
Opening the discussion, Tariq Afghan advocate highlighted the significance of World Refugee Day and reviewed the history of Afghan displacement. He expressed concern over reports of unlawful confinement, arrests and other difficulties faced by Afghan refugees in Pakistan.
He stressed that refugee-related matters should be handled in accordance with constitutional guarantees, judicial directives and international human rights standards. “The protection of refugees must remain consistent with the principles of human dignity, justice and the rule of law,” he said.
The participants discussed the international definition of refugees and the legal principles governing refugee protection. Speakers observed that despite hosting millions of refugees for decades, Pakistan still lacked a comprehensive refugee law and policy framework.
Representatives of UNHCR and SHARP highlighted their efforts to provide legal assistance, protection and support services to refugees. They urged the implementation of international standards and recommended the adoption of dedicated legislation to regulate refugee affairs.
Several speakers voiced concern over issues relating to detention, deportation, legal uncertainty and access to justice for Afghan refugees.
Advocate Afsarullah Dawar said that refugee issues should be addressed through a humanitarian and legal approach instead of suspicion and generalisations.
