The United States isn’t the only country dealing with immigration issues.
After the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Pakistan has seen a large influx of Afghan citizens seeking a refuge from the strict government rule that treats women as second class citizens at best and bans music.
On January 11, a court in Pakistan ruled 150 Afghan musicians who are seeking asylum cannot be deported until after their asylum applications have been processed. The reprieve will give the musicians time to seek legal entrance into the country. The ruling also allows the musicians time to file for refugee status with the United Nations.
One of the musicians in the ruling – Heshmat Ali said, “I am very happy and we are grateful to the court and we hope now we will not face any harassment and forced expulsions.”
The lawyer who represented the musicians – Mumtaz Ahmed – noted that the ruling was the first of its kind.
Pakistan instituted a crackdown of its own on people in the country illegally in 2023. Over the past 18 months, Pakistan officials have deported some 800,000 undocumented people.
Since the Taliban took over in Afghanistan in 2021, some half million citizens have crossed the border looking to escape the tyranny. No country has officially acknowledged the Taliban government in Afghanistan