IHC stays Afghan citizen's deportation

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has temporarily restrained the authorities from deporting an Afghan national, Bakhti Jan, to Afghanistan. The court directed the Ministry of States and Frontier Regions (Safron) to decide, within one month, on the petitioner's request regarding his Proof of Registration (PoR) card, and ordered that he should not be deported until a decision is made.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the petition seeking Pakistani citizenship for the Afghan refugee and protection from deportation. Counsel for the petitioner submitted that applications had been filed with the Ministry of Safron and Nadra, but no decision had yet been taken.

Justice Kayani observed that although the petitioner is an Afghan refugee, he has now come to know that his parents are Pakistani. The court remarked that the petitioner would first have to get his PoR card cancelled and then apply for citizenship, as cancellation of the PoR card is mandatory for seeking Pakistani nationality.

Accordingly, the court directed the Ministry of Safron to decide the petitioner's request for cancellation of the PoR card within one month and adjourned the hearing until next month.