Afghan Migrants in Punjab Face Risk of Asset Seizure or Auction
Reports from Chakwal in Pakistan’s Punjab province say the assets of a number of Afghan migrants, especially shopkeepers, have come under threat of seizure or auction, raising concerns over growing pressure on these migrants. The Taliban-run embassy in Islamabad said it has raised the issue with the relevant Pakistani authorities and is continuing to pursue it.
According to the embassy, a delegation went to Chakwal on Friday, Sept. 4, and inspected firsthand the property belonging to Afghan shopkeepers. The delegation also met with local Pakistani officials in search of a legal solution to prevent the violation of migrants’ rights and protect their assets.
The Taliban-run embassy said local Pakistani officials had promised cooperation on the matter. However, it did not release further details on the outcome of the talks or any practical steps to halt the auction process.
In recent days, reports have emerged of increasing administrative and security pressure by Pakistan on Afghan migrants. According to these reports, in some areas including Punjab, the property of migrants without valid residency documents is at risk of seizure or auction.
Local reports have described this trend as part of Islamabad’s multi-year policy to send Afghan migrants back. In previous rounds as well, alongside deadlines set by the Pakistani government, some migrants were forced to sell their belongings at low prices or vacate their homes before leaving the country.
Chakwal is one of the areas in Pakistan’s Punjab province, where some Afghan migrants are engaged in small-scale trade and shopkeeping. In recent years, the issue of forced return and pressure on Afghan migrants in Pakistan has repeatedly become one of the main concerns of these families.
