PHC stops deportation of Afghan spouse

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) to decide, in accordance with the law, the application for a Pakistan Origin Card (POC) filed by an Afghan national within six months, while restraining the concerned authorities from deporting him during this period.

The order was passed by a bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmed and Justice Dr Khurshid Iqbal while hearing a petition filed by a Pakistani woman, Maryam Bibi, on behalf of her Afghan husband Ismail and their children.

During the hearing, the petitioners' counsel, Hamza Durrani and Aminullah Kundi, informed the court that Maryam Bibi had married Afghan citizen Ismail and the couple has children from the marriage. They submitted that Ismail had applied to NADRA for issuance of a Pakistan Origin Card, but no action was taken on the application, compelling the petitioner to approach the high court.

The lawyers further argued that several judgments of the PHC and other superior courts exist regarding the issuance of POCs in similar cases. They maintained that the marriage of the petitioner remains valid and requested the court to direct NADRA and other relevant authorities to issue a POC to the petitioner's husband.