Pak origin card be issued to Afghan national: PHC

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has ordered issuing a Pakistani origin card to an Afghan national.

A division bench comprising Justice Shakil Ahmad and Sahibzada Asadullah heard the petition of Rashida Bibi submitted through her council Haseeb Ayaz.

Council Ayaz apprised the court that the PHC had issued Pakistani origin cards to several Afghan nationals in recent days and the petitioner was also a Pakistani national who got married to an Afghan national so her husband had the right to get Pakistani nationality.

Under the Pakistani origin card, Afghan nationals are allowed to stay in Pakistan.

The bench, taking into account the recent decisions by the PHC, decided the case in favour of the petitioner, ordering the National Database and Registration Authority to issue a Pakistani origin card to the Afghan national.

The PHC also mentioned in its verdict that the petitioner would also approach the interior ministry to get Pakistani nationality.

The PHC ruled that after completion of all the legal requirements, the husband of the petitioner would be eligible for Pakistani citizenship.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 25^th, 2024.