PHC orders for issuance of POCs to 2 Afghan nationals

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Saturday directed the relevant authorities to issue the Pakistan Origin Cards (POC) to two Afghan nationals married to Pakistani women after fulfilling the necessary requirements.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Wiqar Ahmad while hearing the case also disposed of the writ petitions following issuing the directives to the departments concerned.

Petitioners’ lawyer Tariq Afghan informed the court that Pakistani women Sherbano and Lihaza Bibi had been married to Afghan nationals, who were now being deported.

Praying the court for seeking POC cards for these Afghan husbands, he argued that under the Constitution, the Pakistan Citizenship Act, and basic human rights principles, it was their legal right to be granted POCs.

Issuing these cards, he pleaded, would allow them to stay in Pakistan legally and live a dignified life with their families. He also reminded the court that the PHC had previously passed similar orders in several cases of the same nature.

After hearing arguments, the court directed that POC cards be issued

to the Afghan petitioners after they fulfill the necessary formalities and disposed of the writ petition accordingly.