Sindh President of the Awami National Party (ANP) Shahi Syed has strongly condemned what he described as the alleged harassment and detention of Pashtuns in Karachi under the pretext of action against undocumented migrants.

In a statement issued on Friday, Syed accused the provincial government of using the Sindh Police as an institution to target Pashtun communities in the city – a move he termed unacceptable under any circumstances.

He claimed that citing recent tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan as justification, authorities have carried out raids on Pashtun homes, businesses, and marketplaces across Karachi. According to him, young men and even minors are being detained in the name of document verification and are allegedly released from police stations after payment of bribes. “This practice is unconstitutional, illegal, and inhumane, and must be stopped immediately,” he said.

Syed further stated that, according to official reports, the repatriation process of refugees had already been completed. Despite this, he said, continued actions against Pashtuns over the past two days appear “concerning and driven by ill intent.”

He questioned whether minors belonging to other ethnic communities in the city are also required to carry documentation, or whether the law is being applied selectively against Pashtuns.

The ANP leader warned the provincial government and relevant institutions to refrain from what he termed anti-Pashtun measures and to halt what he described as unjust operations immediately. Otherwise, he said, ANP Sindh would exercise its democratic and constitutional right to protest in front of legislative assemblies, holding the provincial government responsible for any consequences.