HRCP condemns decision to rusticate Afghan students

On Wednesday, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly condemned the decision to expel and return Afghan students currently studying in Pakistani medical and dental colleges. The commission warned that this policy could create a humanitarian crisis, putting the education, safety, and future of young Afghans at immediate risk. Approximately 100 Afghan medical and dental students in Lahore, including an estimated 20 to 40 women, could be affected by this decision.

The HRCP urged the government to uphold the principle of non-refoulement, which mandates that individuals should not be returned to a country where they face serious threats such as persecution or other grave harm. The commission expressed concern over documented risks faced by Afghans returning to Afghanistan, with women being particularly vulnerable to rights violations. It emphasized that no student should be forcibly returned without a personalized assessment of their individual risks.

While acknowledging Pakistan's security concerns and strained relations with Afghanistan, the HRCP firmly believed that collectively punishing students pursuing their education in Pakistan was unjust. The commission demanded that the repatriation orders be suspended immediately and that enrolment of affected students be restored. Additionally, they called for provision of necessary protection and shelter for students requiring it. The HRCP's statement was published in Dawn on September 10th, 2026.