Islamabad – Pakistani police have reportedly detained an Afghan journalist in her rented apartment two days ago and transferred her to an undisclosed detention facility, sparking widespread concern among human rights defenders and press freedom organizations.
Multiple sources have confirmed the journalist’s detention, noting that she held a valid visa for Spain and an exit permit to travel to a third country. Despite possessing legal documentation, she was apprehended by Pakistani authorities, raising serious questions about the legality of the arrest.
The incident has triggered an outcry on the social media platform X, where users are urging international human rights institutions and defenders of press freedom to take immediate action for her release. Many expressed fear for her life, warning that a forced deportation to Afghanistan could put her in danger of arrest or persecution by the Taliban regime.
Zahra Haqparast, a social media user, reported that the journalist was fully documented and ready to leave the country legally. She further alleged that “Pakistani police are using extortion, kidnapping, humiliation, and threats of deportation to intimidate our people.”
This incident comes amid a broader crackdown on Afghan refugees in Pakistan. Over the past two years, Pakistani authorities have forcibly deported thousands of Afghans in multiple waves, prompting international criticism over the treatment of vulnerable asylum seekers, including journalists, women activists, and former government employees at risk under the Taliban regime.
As of now, Pakistani authorities have no official statement regarding the journalist’s whereabouts or the reason for her detention. Human rights defenders continue to call for her immediate release and safe passage to a third country.
