LHC seeks documents regarding deportation

Counsel cites threat of persecution in Afghanistan

LAHORE:

Lahore High Court (LHC) Justice Ali Baqar Najafi has directed petitioners challenging the government’s order to illegal immigrants to leave Pakistan to submit the relevant documents.

The Registrar Office had raised an objection over the government notification having not been attached with the pleas.

Justice Najafi asked about the relevant documents, upon which the petitioners’ counsel Izzat Fatima argued that there was no specific notification except a public notice based on a press release issued by the federal government.

However, on the direction of the court, Advocate Fatima assured the court of coming up with the relevant documents by the next date of hearing.

Read Deportation of illegals challenged in LHC

The petitioners, Khial Noor, Hazrat Ali and family members, had contended that Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti had announced last month the deadline of November 1 for illegal immigrants present in the country to leave, warning that, otherwise, all law enforcement agencies would deport them.

The counsel argued that deporting all the refugees without giving them the right to present their case and of asylum was a violation of the human rights laws would cause repercussions against the country.

She argued that many refugees, especially women and children, had escaped from Afghanistan because they were under the threat of persecution and had made Pakistan their new home.

She stated that the petitioners had been born
and had grown up in Pakistan and they had no connection with their country of origin.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2023.