The Baloch Debate on Violence and Protests I PM Sharif reiterates support for Palestine and Kashmir
In Focus
The Afghan Refugee Repatriation: As the deadline approaches…
Abhiruchi Chowdhury
Who are being deported?
On 29 March, Dawn reported on the federal government’s decision to forcefully deport Afghan refugees from Pakistan after the set deadline of 31 March. The government had already announced that those Afghans who possess the Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) must leave the country by 31 March to avoid forceful deportation. Earlier, the National Database and Registration Authority had “issued” ACC to refugees from Afghanistan which permitted them to temporarily reside in Pakistan. In addition, the holders of ACC, the government has also directed the concerned authorities to shift the Afghan refugees who have “UNHCR-Proof of Registration cards” outside of Islamabad and Rawalpindi by the set deadline.
In the third week of March, the number of people who came back to Afghanistan was almost twice the number of people who left the country. As per the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IMO), more than 70,000 people came back to Afghanistan whereas close to 36000 people left the country. The IOM informed that the number of people coming back to Afghanistan increased by 2 per cent whereas several people who were leaving the country went down by 13 per cent in the third week of March.
The approaching deadline
On 28 March, a high-profile meeting was convened which was presided over by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The officials attending the meeting briefed the Interior Minister about the preparations done for sending back Afghan refugees. The officials informed that “holding centers” have been established that will “detain” Afghan refugees. The detained refugees will have access to “food and healthcare” and will eventually be sent back to Afghanistan. The Interior Minister informed that the federal government will provide all possible assistance to the provincial government for the repatriation process. He further instructed the concerned authorities to not mistreat the refugees while sending them back.
What is likely after the deadline?
The government has initiated a “door-to-door awareness campaign” in which it is informing the citizens about the deportation process: Afghan refugees will be deported after the deadline of 31 March and the government will initiate clampdowns. Further, those Pakistanis being found leasing their “properties” on rent to Afghan refugees will have to bear the “consequences.” Additionally, “search operations” will be initiated to hunt down Afghan refugees who remain in Pakistan after the set date of repatriation. These refugees will be sent back and will not be allowed to enter Pakistan subsequently. Those Afghan refugees who are found guilty of forging documents will have to pay fines and serve jail time. Pakistani citizens who would have helped those refugees in forgery will also face the same punishment.
What has been the response from human rights organizations?
Despite condemnation from the global human rights organizations, the government is going ahead with the deportation process. As per the organizations, the deadline has further aggravated the susceptibility of Afghan refugees. Amnesty International has claimed that “thousands were being harassed, unlawfully detained, and forced to leave the country.” The Foreign Office has dismissed the allegations of the human rights organizations.
What is the response from the civil society?
On 29 March, an opinion in The Express Tribune titled “As the Afghan repatriation deadline nears” discussed the implications of the deportation process in Pakistan. The author, Imtiaz Gul, has argued that the deportation process will hamper Pakistan’s image. Gul also highlighted how in the name of deportation, the law enforcement agencies are causing harassment and have not even spared female students. Gul cited reports from the media in which close to “10 medical institutions and medical clinics” which were run by refugees from Afghanistan have been shut down in Peshawar. Gul pointed out how the repatriation process has affected bilateral ties between the two countries. Pakistan has gone ahead with its deportation plan despite the Afghan government continually urging for a “gradual” deportation process. Gul claimed that most of the Pakistanis support the deportation of Afghan refugees. He further stated that Pakistanis living in “Europe and Americas” have continually pointed out the lack of thankfulness among Afghans for what Pakistan has done for them. Gul urged the federal government to initiate “confidence-building measures,” highlighting how the same is crucial for Pakistan. He also urged the Afghan government to recognize the international border between the two countries.
References
Iftikhar A. Khan, “Arrangements finalised to detain, deport Afghans as deadline nears,” Dawn, 29 March 2025
Amin Ahmed, “Number of Afghans returning to their country rises manifold,” Dawn, 29 March 2025
Imtiaz Gul, “As the Afghan repatriation deadline nears,” The Express Tribune, 29 March 2025
In Brief
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
The Baloch Debate on Violence and Protests
On 28 March, Balochistan government spokesman, Shahid Rind expressed openness to “meaningful” dialogue with opposition members. He reiterated the Chief Minister’s previous invitation to the opposition while speaking at a press conference alongside other provincial leaders. This invitation entailed that the elect and non-elect members of the opposition should hold constructive dialogue on the province’s growing security challenges and spiraling violence in light of recent terror attacks. Along the same tune, Baloch provincial ministers condemned the attacks on Jaffar Express, bus passengers in Gwadar, and a doctor. They acknowledged the poor provincial governance and law and order situation through which corruption and terrorism have permeated and emphasized the government’s commitment to tackle them. Separately, while addressing a press conference, Jamaat-i-Islami member, Hidayatur Rehman highlighted the obsolescence of the federal government’s policies in resolving Balochistan’s issues. He weighed against the deployment of military operations and force, tactics borrowed from military dictatorships’ time. He further reiterated support for the BNP’s long march and stressed the need for meaningful political dialogue instead of violence.
On the same day, late-night reports revealed that the long march launched by the Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M) to protest against the Baloch Yakhjeti Committee (BYC) leaders’ and workers’ arrest was obstructed by the local administration. The march from Matsung to Quetta began at around 0900 hours. On reaching the Luck Pass, the local administration allegedly tried stopping the marchers from heading to the capital. Addressing the protestors, Former Balochistan Chief Minister, Sadar Akthar Mengal declared that if they weren’t allowed entry into Quetta then they would march towards Islamabad. He added that a sit-in will be staged on arriving in Quetta till their demands to release the BYC members are met. He also divulged that another attempt was made to suppress the movement as “all petrol pumps from Khuzdar to Quetta were sealed, and the mobile network was completely shut down.”
On 29 March, an editorial titled “Balochistan violence,” in Dawn denounced the militant targeting of ethnic groups in Balochistan. Amid ongoing unrest, bus passengers were offloaded and killed after their ID cards were checked. They all belonged to Punjab. In this regard, the editorial criticized militant groups for turning to ethnic violence while acknowledging the political, social, and economic neglect of Balochistan. The editorial pointed out that such violence can be overcome only when mainstream political parties “admitted their failure to engage Balochistan meaningfully.” There is disenfranchisement among the Baloch population as nationalist parties have been labeled “anti-national” or terrorist groups. Such an approach has proved “unproductive” as it only feeds into extremist rhetoric. However, the provincial leaders must also reflect upon whether it has contributed to their people’s upliftment. They must admit to their role in poor governance before the youth view militancy as the “only path” to redemption. (Saleem Shahid, “Balochistan govt turns to opposition for help with countering terrorism,” Dawn, 29 March 2025; Abdul Wahid & Saleem Shahid, “BNP-M long march against arrests leaves Mastung for Quetta,” Dawn, 29 March 2025; “Violence, military actions cannot resolve Balochistan’s issues, says JI leader,” Dawn, 29 March 2025; “Balochistan violence,” Dawn, 29 March 2025)
JUDICIARY
IHC judge questions CJ’s power to reassign cases
On 29 March, a Dawn report highlighted that the power to reassign cases is outside the chief justice's ambit. This statement was made by Justice Babar Sattar while hearing a writ petition, No. 937/2025 (Muhammad Nadeem vs Federation of Pakistan), that addressed this administrative reassignment. Originally, the case was transferred to another bench after gaining approval from the original bench. However, the acting chief justice transferred the case back to it and challenged the chief justice's decision to transfer a case to the same bench. This became the bone of contention. It prompted Justice Sattar to rule that such intervention is against the High Court’s rules. He deemed it an “inadvertent mistake” on the part of the chief justice. (Malik Asad, “Justice Sattar questions acting IHC CJ’s power to reassign cases,” Dawn, 29 March 2025)
Judicial magistrate rejects bail plea filed by CEO of a YouTube channel, Farhan Mallick
On 28 March, a “post-arrest bail” application lodged by Farhan Mallick was rejected by a “judicial magistrate.” He was detained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for posting “anti-state content” on YouTube. Farhan Mallick is a journalist in charge of a YouTube channel called “Raftar.” The court also expressed its discontent over FIA not sticking to its orders. The court had ordered to send Mallick to jail which was not complied with by the FIA. Mallick’s lawyer contended that FIA had put forward the case in a way that implied he secretly ran his YouTube channel. However, the lawyer argued that Mallick had “openly disclosed” that he was the “CEO” of the channel. Separately, Waheed Murad, another journalist, has been granted bail by a court of judicial magistrate. FIA had detained Murad for sharing a post that referred to the “alleged Baloch genocide.” However, his lawyer contended that Murad’s post “quoted” what Akhtar Mengal said on his “social media.” (Malik Asad and Sumair Abdullah, “Journalist Farhan Mallick denied post-arrest bail,” Dawn, 29 March 2025)
ENVIRONMENT, ENERGY & WATER
Federal government looks to slash electricity prices by PKR 1.71
On 29 March, The News International reported on the government’s intention to slash electricity prices. In this regard, it has urged the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to decrease electricity rates by PKR 1.71 per unit. The decrease in electricity prices would be compensated by the government by surging the “tariff differential subsidy.” The government has decided to decrease the electricity prices to create a surge in demand for electricity. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has given its consent to slashing electricity prices by PKR one per unit. As per sources of The News, the government was looking to slash electricity rates by PKR 8 per unit. IMF also wants the decrease in prices to be compensated through the taxes imposed on “gas-based captive power plants.” Sources of The News are anticipating that PM Sharif will declare the changes in electricity rates “himself” on the occasion of Eid. (Israr Khan, Kasim Abbasi and Mehtab Haider, “Govt all set to reduce power tariff,” The News International, 29 March 2025)
MEDIA
On using PECA to target journalists:
“It has created an environment of fear where individuals can be targeted merely for exposing incompetence or speaking out against wrongdoing,” says an editorial in The News International
On 29 March, an editorial in The News International titled “You’ve been Peca-d,” discussed how the recently amended Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) is being exploited by the state to target journalists and media personnel. The editorial highlighted how there has been a strong “opposition” to the imposition and execution of PECA. It pointed out the recent appeal lodged by the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists against PECA, claiming that the amendments go against the constitution. The editorial highlighted how the amendments to PECA allow the state to repress the voices of those who shed light on the ineptness of the government. The editorial admitted that Pakistan does face the challenge of countering and minimizing the spread of fake news. However, the editorial argued that the state should come up with better techniques to counter the spread of “misinformation.” The editorial noted how historically Pakistanis have stood united against laws that curb freedom of speech. The editorial regretted the fact that the PML-N, which during the tenure of the PTI government had called for free media, is now using laws to suppress the voice of journalists. (“You’ve been Peca-d,” The News International, 29 March 2025)
PAKISTAN OCCUPIED KASHMIR
Gilgit-Baltistan: Karakoram Highway reopened for traffic on 28 March
On 28 March, the Karakoram Highway and Baltistan Road were reopened at several points for traffic. The roads were earlier closed after heavy rainfall led to landslides in some locations in Kohistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Diamer, Gilgit-Baltistan (GB). However, the Astore Valley Road in Kicham and some link roads in the upper region of GB remain closed following avalanches, landslides, and fresh spells of snow. Currently, efforts are underway to remove snow and rocks from the road. GB’s Disaster Management Authority announced that the road blocked by an avalanche in Kicham has been cleared but remains closed due to landslides in other areas. (Jamil Nagri, “Karakoram Highway reopens, Astore Road remains shut,” Dawn, 29 March 2025)
EXTERNAL
PM Sharif reiterates support for Palestine and Kashmir
On 28 March, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s support for the Palestinian and Kashmiri cause while addressing leaders and ambassadors from Islamic Countries. He spoke at “Rab-i-Zujalal ka Ehsaan,” organized in observance of the 27th night of Ramzan when the first revelation of the Quran took place. He also highlighted the economic, social, and security challenges facing Pakistan that can be overcome through collaboration among people from all walks of life. He urged the ulemas to promote the message of unity, brotherhood, positive thinking, and scholarliness amid growing sectarian tendencies, propaganda, and fake news. He further blamed foreign elements that prevented Pakistan from exploiting its mineral resources. (Syed Irfan Raza, “PM Shehbaz pledges continued support to Palestine, Kashmir,” Dawn, 29 March 2025)
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If you had worked as hard as you did to run the country and the province, we wouldn't have to protest on the streets today.
- Akthar Mengal
"Instead of repeating the mistakes of 1971 that divided the nation, work towards uniting it!"
- PTI
There is no shortage of resources in Pakistan. God willing, we will benefit from these resources and bring progress and prosperity to the nation.
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif
- PMLN
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"The Trump administration has weaponized the fact that visas can be taken away without any explanation."
An opinion in Dawn, 'Targeting visa holders.’
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