IHC orders federal govt to inform court on policy regarding students stranded in China

Court says it cannot intervene in policy matters

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday instructed the federal government to inform the court on policy regarding Pakistani students stranded in China by March 20.

IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah resumed the hearing of the petition pertaining to repatriation of Pakistani students stranded in China’s coronavirus epicentre of Wuhan.

The assistant attorney general during today's hearing informed the court that the issue has been tabled before the cabinet and added that President Arif Alvi will also be visiting China.



The director-general of the Foreign Office said money would be sent to all Pakistani students stuck in China, whereas the “decision to repatriate the students from China would be taken by the cabinet”.

“The court cannot doubt the intentions of the cabinet,” Justice Minallah remarked.

“The court had sought a progress report on the cabinet decision but they did not respond,” counsel said.

Parents preset during the hearing implored that their patience is running out and the court should give clear “directions to bring back our children from China”.

“Pilgrims infected with coronavirus have been brought back from Iran but our children have not,” the parents said. “No one has been tested positive for the virus from China.”



The court replied that coronavirus not only pertains to Pakistan but the whole world and “the court cannot intervene in policy matters.”

Adjuring the hearing till March 20, the court ordered the federal cabinet to appraise the court on policy regarding repatriating Pakistani students stuck in China.