PESHAWAR, Pakistan — A court in Pakistan has halted the deportation of 150 Afghan musicians and singers for a minimum of two months. This decision mandates that authorities refrain from expelling these individuals until their asylum cases are resolved, as conveyed by their legal representative on Friday.
These musicians are part of roughly half a million Afghans who fled to Pakistan following the Taliban’s rise to power in 2021. Despite this influx, Pakistan has yet to officially recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan, reflecting global hesitancy due to the Taliban’s severe policies, particularly those that curtail the rights of women and marginalized groups.
Mumtaz Ahmed, the attorney representing the 150 Afghan artists, expressed that this court ruling is unprecedented and comes as a significant relief for his clients, who have been living under uncertain circumstances. This uncertainty has persisted since 2023, when Pakistan initiated a sweeping campaign against migrants residing in the country illegally.
The crackdown has faced extensive censure from United Nations organizations, which have highlighted the potential for human rights abuses linked to forced deportations. This includes risks such as family separations and the expulsion of unaccompanied minors.
In the last year and a half, Pakistan has deported over 800,000 Afghans who were living without proper documentation, having entered through various border points since 2021. Under the latest court ruling, the Pakistani government is obliged to make a determination regarding the asylum applications of the 150 musicians within the next two months. Moreover, these individuals are allowed to register with the United Nations refugee agency to gain refugee status.
An Afghan singer, Heshmat Ali, expressed his joy and gratitude towards the court’s decision, hoping that this will help them avoid further harassment and the threat of forced deportation. He shared concerns about the safety of Afghan musicians if they are compelled to return to Afghanistan.
Pakistan has granted a reprieve to Afghan refugees, allowing them to remain in the country until June 2025, as per a government directive issued last year. Historically, Pakistan has housed an estimated 1.7 million Afghan refugees, many of whom fled due to the Soviet occupation from 1979 to 1989.
