Recent changes in Pakistan's immigration policy have put over two million Afghan residents at risk of deportation. One family's harrowing experience highlights the situation: Salima Ahmad faced imminent arrest for their expired visas despite applying for renewals. Police raids led to her husband's detention, and her family was taken to a refugee camp. Ahmad's desperate pleas for understanding went unheeded. After days of fear, they managed to return home by paying a bribe. Their visas are renewed temporarily, but anxiety looms over the potential reoccurrence of this ordeal.
I kept imploring, pleading for his release. I tried to show them my documentation and proof that we had applied for visa renewal, but they didn't listen.
I begged them not to do this. My children would be traumatised. But they eventually put us in a van and took us away.
After spending two days in a tent at the camp situated in Islamabad's outskirts, I had to ask my relatives... to arrange this loan.
For now, the family has passports back, with visas stamped for one more month, at the end of which Salima fears a repeat of the humiliating and scary experience.
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