The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has temporarily blocked the deportation of 18 Afghan citizens, demanding a response from the Pakistani government. Chief Justice Sarfraz Dogar issued the stay on Monday, halting repatriation proceedings against the individuals and preventing further measures against them. Notices were served to several government bodies, including the Ministry of Interior, NADRA, the Director General Immigration, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the police, requiring them to submit their responses.
The Afghans had petitioned the court after their Proof of Residence (PoR) cards were revoked on August 4, leading to deportation orders. Their lawyer contended that they are relatives of the late Fazlur Rehman, who had initiated the process for Pakistani citizenship in 2008. However, a final decision on his application remains pending.
The court barred authorities from any action against the petitioners until the subsequent hearing slated for September 18, directing all involved entities to provide detailed comments. This intervention comes amidst the Pakistani government’s declaration earlier this month to initiate the repatriation of over 1.3 million Afghan refugees holding PoR cards starting September 1. The Ministry of Interior had previously announced on July 31 that these cardholders, the last group of Afghans legally residing in Pakistan without visas, would lose their legal status after June 30 upon the expiration of their cards. On August 4, instructions for enforcing the Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan (IFRP) were dispatched to provincial authorities across Pakistan.