PHC saves 100 Afghan musicians from deportation

Restrains govt from taking further action against them

PESHAWAR:

The Peshawar High Court has issued an order preventing the forced deportation of over 100 Afghan musicians seeking political asylum in Pakistan.

The court has directed the federal government to decide their cases within two months and instructed security agencies not to take any action against them during this period. A concise written decision has been issued by the court in this regard.

The two-page decision was authored by Justice Waqar Ahmad. During the hearing of the petition filed by Hashmatullah, the petitioners' lawyer, Mumtaz Ahmad, and Assistant Attorney General Rahat Ali Naqvi, representing the federal government, were present in court.

The petitioners argued that they hail from Afghanistan, but migrated to Pakistan after the Taliban took control, as their lives were under threat and they lost their livelihoods. In Pakistan, they claimed to have faced harassment and threats of forced deportation, which they asserted is a violation of human rights. They argued that under international laws, the Pakistani government cannot forcibly deport them and filed a petition with the Peshawar High Court against such actions.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the two-member bench concluded the petitions and directed the federal government or its designated officers to decide on the asylum applications of the Afghan musicians within two months. The court ordered that the musicians should not be forcibly deported during this period.

Additionally, the decision stated that Afghan musicians can also apply for asylum with the UNHCR, and if their cases remain undecided within two months, the federal secretary of the interior should allow them to stay in Pakistan temporarily under a policy framework.