PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has stopped the deportation of two Afghan journalists currently residing in Pakistan and directed the federal government to determine their cases within 60 days.
The petitioners, identified as Syed Ehsanullah Salehi and Syed Munir Ahmed, are Afghan journalists who entered Pakistan on valid visas and are currently living in the country.
Court Orders 60-Day Review
In its ruling, the Peshawar High Court directed the federal government to decide the cases of the two petitioners within two months.
The court noted that the journalists had entered Pakistan legally and were currently residing in the country.
According to the petitioners, they have applied for resettlement in France, and their applications are currently under consideration.
French Embassy Has Verified Cases
The petitioners told the court that their applications for resettlement in France were still being processed.
They also stated that the French Embassy had already completed verification in connection with their cases.
The court considered these circumstances while examining their request for protection from deportation.
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Journalists Fear Arrest and Deportation
According to their lawyer, the two Afghan journalists faced the possibility of arrest and deportation from Pakistan.
The petitioners also maintained that fear of deportation had restricted their freedom of movement within the country.
The court therefore directed the relevant authorities to consider their cases within the prescribed period.
Temporary Permission If Decision Is Delayed
The Peshawar High Court further ordered that if the federal government fails to reach a decision within 60 days, the Ministry of Interior should provide the petitioners with temporary permission to remain in Pakistan.
The direction is intended to prevent the journalists from facing immediate deportation while their cases remain unresolved.
The ruling provides temporary relief to the two Afghan journalists as they await a decision on their resettlement applications.
