"As an expert, I am independent and have always remained so," Advocate and one among the three experts who has agreed to advise the UN-mandated investigation, into alleged human rights violations committed during the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, Asma Jahangir told Ceylon Today.

Jahangir said so when Ceylon Today questioned her how she would be on the 'other side' considering when Pakistan relentlessly tried to block any UN investigation at the last UN session.

 When asked if she would face intimidation from her own government, Jahangir said: "My government has not so far brought up the appointment with me, for that matter, no government or other institutions can influence or should influence me. I do not speculate but whatever will be verified will also be reported."

Pak, Afghan refugees fear arrest

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) said that its office is in the process of verifying the legality of the Pakistani and Afghan refugees and asylum seekers who are registered with them.

This follows the rounding up of Pakistani and Afghan refugees and asylum seekers in the country by the Department of Immigration and Emigration (I&ED), beginning last month.

UNHCR Executive Assistant Dushanthi Fernando told Ceylon Today that a total of 189 Afghan and Pakistanis have been rounded up by I&ED. Of them, 144 are Pakistanis and 45 are Afghans.

She said that last week Immigration released three Pakistanis out of 142 arrested, initially.

But it is learnt that immediately afterwards they had arrested five more. "The numbers keep shifting," Fernando said.

Meanwhile, on Thursday around 60 Pakistanis and Afghans who have registered with the UNHCR seeking asylum gathered before the UNHCR office compound asking for protection. They said that they are scared to go back to their homes as they feared being arrested.

UNHCR said that they are in touch with the I&ED and the Defence Ministry, but no official feedback was received. In the meantime the UNHCR is requesting the people gathered in the compound to go back home.