The court said that the petitioner must cancel the PoR card before applying for citizenship as cancellation is mandatory

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has temporarily restrained authorities from deporting an Afghan national, Bakhti Jan, to Afghanistan. The court ordered the Ministry of States and Border Regions (Safron) to rule on the petitioner’s request for his Proof of Registration (PoR) card within one month, and ordered that he not be deported until a decision is made.

Judge Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the petition seeking Pakistani citizenship for the Afghan refugee and protection from deportation. The petitioner’s lawyer stated that applications had been made to the Ministry of Safron and Nadra, but no decision had been taken yet.

Also read: Government panel will investigate the unloading of travelers

Justice Kayani observed that although the petitioner is an Afghan refugee, he now knows that his parents are Pakistani. The court noted that the petitioner would first have to cancel his PoR card and then apply for citizenship as cancellation of PoR card is mandatory for applying for Pakistani nationality.

Accordingly, the court ordered the Safron Ministry to decide the petitioner’s request for cancellation of the PoR card within one month and adjourned the hearing until next month.