Another day, another act of barbarity against Pashtuns, as they face racial profiling following the protest on 26 November 2024. The profiling and discriminatory treatment against Pashtuns and Afghans in Islamabad have become evident once again. Under the pretense of maintaining order, Pashtuns—whether students, laborers, or ordinary citizens—are being arrested, mishandled, and targeted without any substantial evidence. Despite having complete documentation, Afghan residents in Islamabad are accused of participating in the PTI protest and are being harassed by the Islamabad Police.
Many of those arrested are street vendors or laborers, along with their family members, who were detained while attempting to secure bail for their loved ones outside court premises. This unjust treatment has sparked outcry on social media. A prominent lawyer and human rights activist wrote on X:
“The situation in Islamabad demands urgent attention. Pashtuns are facing severe institutional discrimination, with the judiciary now playing a leading role in this. We urge everyone to raise their voice against the continued harassment of Pashtuns.”
Similarly, human rights activist and lawyer Iman Hazir Mazari expressed her concern on X:
“The way these Pashtun men and boys were being racially profiled, harassed & loaded onto private vehicles… awful! The saddest part in all of this is how we, as human beings, see this happening in front of us to other living, breathing people but cannot come together to stop it.”
This alarming situation poses a serious challenge to the federation. The state must recognize that such discriminatory treatment of Pashtuns could provoke significant backlash from nationalist forums and parties. It is imperative to ensure justice and dignity for all citizens to prevent further unrest and division.
