Indian court says Pakistani woman can’t visit Karachi for ID card renewal

MUMBAI: A city-based woman’s plea to travel to Karachi to renew her Pakistani identity card has been denied by a court, Indian media reported.

Khatija Rangwala, (27), who has been residing in India for the past 15 years, said she needed the renewed card to obtain a new Pakistani passport. However, her past criminal conviction and questions surrounding her Indian citizenship status have led to the denial. “...the right to travel abroad is now held to be a fundamental right and fundamental rights guaranteed under the Indian Constitution are also available to the foreigners, but in the present case the appellant is admittedly a Pakistani citizen who has been convicted by an Indian trial court for offences... There were serious charges against her that she had suppressed the fact she was a Pakistani citizen...,” said additional sessions judge Vishal Gaike.

The woman was earlier convicted on charges including forgery and violations of the Indian Passports Act as she had falsely claimed that she was an Indian citizen and had lost her documents during the Godhra riots.

She was sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment. While her sentence is currently suspended pending appeal, the court cited these convictions and allegations that she fraudulently claimed Indian citizenship as reasons to deny her travel request. The prosecution and police argued that she posed a flight risk and might not return, potentially hindering the appeal process. They also raised concerns about potential anti-India activities.

The woman argued the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi requires a Shanakhti (identity card) before issuing a new passport. She offered surety and pointed to a previous instance where the court had permitted her passport renewal. The court concluded her past actions presented too great a risk of her fleeing and obstructing justice.