Kurds in Pakistan
Appearance
Kurdên li Pakistanê ( Northwestern Iranians ) |
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Kurds in Pakistan (
Kurdish origin. They are a small population consisting mainly of expatriates and transient migrants, most of whom arrived following the start of the Gulf War
in Iraq in 1990.
Demographics
External videos | |
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PAKISTAN: POLICE TEAR GAS KURDISH REFUGEES. |
As many as 4,000-5,000 Kurds, originating from Iraqi Kurdistan, migrated to Pakistan in the early 1990s when the Gulf War broke out in Iraq.[1] A large number of them were based in Islamabad.[2] As of 2013, up to 240 Iraqi Kurds were still living in the country.[1] The majority of them were secondary migrants and asylum seekers, and were registered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) operating in Pakistan.[1] Among them is a younger generation which is born in Pakistan.[3] Over the years, these transient migrants have been able to obtain immigration and have resettled in other countries in Europe and North America, with the help of the UNHCR.[1]
As Pakistan is not a signatory of the
1951 refugee convention, most Kurdish migrants are not able to acquire Pakistani citizenship. Due to their legal status, many tend to face social challenges relating to economic constraints, finding employment, healthcare, resettlement and other services.[1] Members of the Kurdish community have raised their concerns with the UNHCR and other authorities, calling for the addressing of such issues.[4][1]
Notable people
- Rez Gardi, New Zealand lawyer and human rights activist[5]
- Benazir Bhutto , Pakistani politician, Prime Minister of Kurdish origin[6]
- Fatima Bhutto, Pakistani Writer
- left-wingmilitantorganization
- 1977 coup, and as a senior member of the federal cabinetbetween 1988 and 1990.
- Iranian Kurdishdescent
- Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Jr, Pakistani visual artist, performance artist and curator.
- Nahid Mirza, aristocrat who became the first lady of Pakistan from 1956 to 1958
- Pakistan Peoples Party.
See also
- Kurdish diaspora
- Kurdish refugees
- Immigration to Pakistan
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Iraqi refugees – leading an uncertain life". Dawn. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ^ "Pakistani forces raided on Kurdish refugees". Kurdsat. 4 December 2012. Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ISBN 9780306483219.
- ^ "Iraqi refugees protest against UNHCR". Dawn. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
- ^ "National Portrait: Rez Gardi, lawyer, resettled refugee, outstanding young New Zealander". 17 February 2017.
- ^ "Begum Nusrat Bhutto".