The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has dismissed petitions filed by Afghan nationals seeking permission for temporary stay, legal protection and visa-related relief in Pakistan.
A two-member bench comprising Justice Waqar Ahmad and Justice Kamran Hayat Mian khel issued a written verdict, ruling that matters relating to visa renewal, extension and immigration fall within the jurisdiction of the executive authorities and are not subject to judicial intervention unless there is evidence of an unlawful act or violation of legal rights.
One of the petitioners, Baryalai Sharifi, a former member of the Afghan National Army, had argued that returning to Afghanistan would put his life at risk.
The petitioners had requested permission to remain temporarily in Pakistan, access to emergency medical treatment on Afghan passports, the facility to apply online for visa renewals, and protection from arrest and harassment.
The court held that no grounds had been established for intervention under Article 199 of the Constitution, observing that it could not grant the requested relief in the absence of any proven illegality or infringement of fundamental rights. Consequently, all petitions were dismissed.
Meanwhile, authorities have intensified operations in Peshawar following the verification of allegedly illegally obtained Pakistani identity cards held by some Afghan nationals.
According to reports, information relating to Afghan residents from 95 markets in the city has been shared with the relevant agencies as part of the ongoing crackdown.
The repatriation of Afghan nationals also continued, with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department reporting that 1,826 Afghan citizens returned to Afghanistan through the province on the previous day.
The total included 433 registered Proof of Registration (POR) card holders and 202 Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders who voluntarily repatriated.
The department said 1,168 undocumented Afghan nationals also returned to Afghanistan, while 190 individuals were deported after completing legal formalities.
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