Court restores passport control powers of government

The Federal Constitutional Court has restored key provisions of the Passport and Immigration Rules after suspending a Lahore High Court judgement that had previously struck them down.

A two-member bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi issued notices to the parties and declared the federal government’s appeal maintainable. The court’s interim decision effectively reinstates the government’s authority to place citizens on the Passport Control List and to deactivate passports in certain cases.

With this ruling, powers that allow authorities to restrict or block passports of individuals involved in suspected illegal activities have been restored. The court said these powers are subject to legal scrutiny but cannot remain suspended during ongoing proceedings.

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During the hearing, Justice Rizvi questioned the nature of the case and asked whether it involved individuals involved in illegal migration attempts, commonly referred to as “Dunki” routes.

The Additional Attorney General informed the court that a citizen named Farhan Ali had illegally travelled to Iran, from where he was deported. He said the individual’s name was placed on the Passport Control List due to unlawful activities, which was later challenged in the Lahore High Court.

The court also questioned whether the individual was merely a passenger or involved in facilitating illegal migration for money. It further inquired about the Federal Investigation Agency’s progress in the matter.

The government lawyer stated that no detailed information had yet been obtained from the FIA regarding the investigation. He added that the Lahore High Court had earlier declared Rules 3 and 10 of the Passport and Immigration Regulations null and void.

After hearing initial arguments, the Federal Constitutional Court suspended the Lahore High Court’s decision and adjourned the case indefinitely, restoring the government’s enforcement powers for now.