PESHAWAR:
The Peshawar High Court has issued an order preventing the forcible deportation of more than 100 Afghan musicians seeking political asylum in Pakistan.
The court has directed the federal government to decide their cases within two months and directed security agencies not to take any action against them during this period. The court has issued a concise written decision in this regard.
The two-page decision was written by Justice Waqar Ahmad. During the hearing of the petition filed by Hashmatullah, petitioners’ lawyer Mumtaz Ahmad and Deputy Attorney General Rahat Ali Naqvi representing the federal government were present in court.
The petitioners argued that they come from Afghanistan but migrated to Pakistan after the Taliban took control as their lives were threatened and they lost their livelihoods. In Pakistan, they reported experiencing harassment and threats of forced deportation, which they said is a violation of human rights. They argued that under international law the Pakistani government cannot forcibly deport them and filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court against such actions.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the two-member court concluded the petitions and ordered the federal government or its designated officials to decide on the asylum claims of the Afghan musicians within two months. The court ordered that the musicians not be forcibly deported during this period.
Furthermore, the decision states that Afghan musicians can also apply for asylum with the UNHCR, and if their cases remain unresolved within two months, the federal interior secretary should allow them to stay temporarily in Pakistan under a political framework.
