ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court Thursday suspended the Peshawar High Court’s decision on issuance of Pakistan Origin Cards (POC) and citizenship to Afghan nationals based on their marriages with Pakistani citizens and issued notices to the parties involved.
A three-member bench, headed by Justice Shahid Waheed, heard the appeal filed by the interior ministry concerning the Peshawar High Court’s ruling, granting Pakistan Origin Cards to Afghan nationals. Justice Musarrat Hilali and Justice Salahuddin Panhwar were the other bench members.
Additional Attorney General Rana Asadullah submitted that the Peshawar High Court had ruled that if an Afghan national had married a Pakistani woman, he should be issued a Pakistan Origin Card. He further submitted that they had no objection to the issuance of POC itself, but the high court had also directed that such Afghan nationals should be granted Pakistani citizenship.
At this, Justice Musarrat Hilali asked on what grounds citizenship could be granted and how many petitioners were involved. The additional attorney general replied that there were a total of 117 petitioners. Justice Hilali remarked that these were only those who had come forward.
The counsel for National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) submitted that Afghan nationals marrying Pakistani citizens must also hold a valid and legal visa.
Justice Hilali commented that it should also be considered whether a person entered through the door or by climbing over the wall. The additional attorney general further said contempt of court petitions were being filed against the interior ministry for not implementing the Peshawar High Court’s decision. He requested that the high court’s decision be suspended until the final verdict in the case.
