Pakistani activist: I fight for refugees' rights in the West only
says he can't understand the criticism for not speaking up for Afghan refugees being deported in Pakistan
Brussels, Berlin, and Beyond — Pakistani activist Khawaja Bro who has made a name for himself in performative activism in the West has expressed outrage on being called out for not speaking up for Afghan refugees facing cruel treatment and deportation in Pakistan. In a video posted on his social media, Bro said it’s not his fault fighting for civil rights back home is not as lucrative.
“Look, no one cares for refugee rights in Pakistan,” he went on to say. “Besides, it doesn’t look good on my resume.”
Bro went on to say “but generally I stand with all displaced peoples—Syrians, Ukrainians, those fleeing climate disasters.”
Khawaja Bro’s impressive track record includes passionately protesting in front of the Hungarian Parliament, tearfully blogging from a train station in Vienna, and posting a 17-part Instagram story about a refugee camp visit in Lesbos that got him so many new followers.
Selective Suffering: A Moral Strategy
Critics have noted Bro’s curious silence on Pakistan’s ongoing mass deportation of Afghan refugees—more than 800,000 already expelled, many born and raised in Pakistan, some activists, women’s rights defenders, and artists now being shoved across a border into Taliban hands.
When asked about this glaring omission, Bro blinked slowly and replied, “Well, those refugees are... different. It’s like, not chic. You know? There’s no Guardian photographer following them. And have you seen the lighting in those parts of Karachi?”
He added that activism “shouldn’t be confused with local accountability,” and emphasized that his European advocacy was “a vibe,” whereas criticizing Pakistan’s treatment of Afghan refugees was “a buzzkill.”
Human Rights: Some Restrictions Apply
In his latest op-ed, titled “Borders Are Violence (Unless They're Ours)”, Bro explained that “it’s unfair to expect Pakistan, a developing country, to host millions of Afghan refugees forever. But it’s also unfair for Europe to not let every refugee in. See the difference? It’s... vibes-based.”
In private circles, Bro is rumored to have once almost tweeted about the Afghan deportations, but decided against it after realizing it might upset a few military-adjacent uncles on her WhatsApp, and more importantly, risk his potential nomination for a TEDx talk in Copenhagen.
International Recognition, Local Amnesia
The international recognition for fighting for refugees’ rights in the West praised Meher’s ability to walk the tightrope of global activism—loud enough to trend, vague enough to dodge responsibility. “He’s the perfect modern activist,” said one judge. “Has a visa, a verified account, and absolutely no intention of engaging with domestic hypocrisy.”
Meanwhile, Afghan families in Pakistan continue packing their lives into sacks, subjected to police raids, detentions, deportation into the arms of a regime they fled. Khawaja Bro plans to address their plight soon—in a performative panel discussion in Amsterdam titled “Borders, Boots, and Breadsticks: Reclaiming Safe Spaces Through Aesthetic Protest.”
Final Thoughts
As Bro posted a carousel of his achievements—captioned “Justice, always.”—a lone commenter dared ask, “What about the Afghan refugees in Pakistan?” He swiftly deleted the comment, blocked the user, and added a Story that read:
“No one is free until we are all free… except the ones at home, who are, like, someone else’s job.”