Between papers and peril

Pakistani asylum narratives in Italy’s new migration moment

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/fayg4883

Keywords:

: Illegal Migration, Pakistani Migrants, Asylum Seekers, Migration Experiences, Italy, Qualitative Research,

Abstract

This article examines how Pakistani men seeking protection in Italy make sense of leaving home, enduring irregular journeys, and rebuilding their lives under “paperwork time.” Drawing on ten in-depth, note-based interviews conducted across different stages of the asylum process, we apply reflexive thematic analysis to explore how migration decisions, danger, and belonging are narrated under high-stakes credibility pressures. The participants’ accounts rarely fit a simple refugee/economic binary: they describe layered motives shaped by family obligation, status aspirations, economic pressure, and, for some, chronic insecurity. Journeys are recalled as organized deprivation structured by debt and coercion, including hunger, unsafe water, injury, and threats by intermediaries. Arrival does not end hardship; it often transforms it into prolonged waiting, language dependence, precarious work, and loneliness. A central finding is that asylum operates as a narrative regime.

Author Biographies

  • Zubair Hussain, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy

    Zubair Hussain is a dedicated migration scholar and doctoral researcher in Human Relations Science at the University of Bari Aldo Moro, Italy, with extensive experience in research, teaching, and academic publishing. He has taught social sciences at Allama Iqbal Open University and King’s College, Sahiwal, Pakistan, and has contributed to major international conferences across Europe and Asia. His research focuses on return migration, reintegration, sustainable development, and sociopolitical dynamics in Pakistan, supported by a strong record of peer-reviewed publications in reputable journals, including Ethnic and Racial Studies and Discover Sustainability.

    Email: z.hussain1@phd.uniba.it

  • Ihtisham Ullah, Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation, Malaysia

    Ihtisham Ullah is a dedicated scholar and Senior Lecturer at the Asia Pacific University of Technology and Innovation, Kuala Lumpur. His research spans ecotourism, dark tourism, halal studies, consumer behavior, sustainable development, and technology-enhanced learning. He has contributed to numerous international and Scopus-indexed journals, publishing on value cocreation, social media engagement, adaptive learning systems, halal awareness, and community-based tourism. His interdisciplinary work integrates tourism, marketing, technology, and social sciences, reflecting strong global collaboration and methodological diversity. Dr. Ullah’s scholarship offers valuable insights into emerging trends shaping tourism, sustainability, and digital innovation across diverse cultural contexts. Email: ihtisham.ullah@apu.edu.my

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Published

2026-03-07

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 6 (2026): Journal of International Students

Section

Immigration Policies, Student Security, and Emerging Issues

Categories

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Copyright (c) 2026 Zubair Hussain, Ihtisham Ullah

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How to Cite

Hussain, Z., & Ullah, I. (2026). Between papers and peril: Pakistani asylum narratives in Italy’s new migration moment. Journal of International Students, 16(6), 197-218. https://doi.org/10.32674/fayg4883