PHC restores citizenship of exiled Chitrali families

Petitioner argued that they were denied the renewal and issuance of ID cards

PESHAWAR: In a decree issued on Wednesday, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) restored the citizenship of 65 families who were exiled in 1951 by the then ruler of Chitral state.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice Mazhar Alam Miankhel and Justice Ghazanfar Ali directed the interior ministry to restore their citizenship by issuing computerised identity cards to the families.

When the hearing began on petitions filed by the families, their counsel Mohibullah argued that the petitioners were residents of Chitral and there was enough evidence to prove that they were Pakistani citizens. He said that it was on record that the petitioners were Pakistani citizens who were exiled.

He said that after being exiled, they took refuge in Afghanistan. However, they returned to their homeland in 1982.

He argued that they were denied the renewal and issuance of ID cards because they received relief items sent for Afghan refugees.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 10^th, 2016.