PESHAWAR, June 20: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has accused the law enforcement agencies of arresting and physically harassing the Afghan refugees, particularly women and children.

HRCP chairperson Afrasiab Khattak said they had received many reports about acid-throwing, stalking and even assault on refugee women. “Women received injuries and their families are forced to flee Pakistan,” he told a news conference at the Peshawar Press Club on Thursday.

He said that thousands of Afghan refugees, including women and children, had been arrested and booked under the Foreign Act for their illegal stay in Pakistan. Recently, he added, 60 refugees had been deported via Torkham without fulfilling legal procedure.

During the large-scale arrests, he said, the refugees had been tortured, humiliated and robbed by the police, adding that seven women were shifted to Adiala Jail where 1,000 refugees were languishing.

He said that despite being host to millions of refugees Pakistan still did not have any specific law for refugees which was adding to their miseries. He demanded of Pakistan, Afghanistan, the United Nations and other international organizations to hold a meeting to streamline the process of the repatriation.