Lahore:
Passports of thousands of people through Punjab have been blocked in the past 2 years due to their presumed participation on May 9, 2023 riot incidents – leading to the cancellation of their international trips, including the pilgrimage to Mecca.
Interestingly, Geo Escoring was used to identify the allegedly active rioters in a particular field on May 9 and 10, 2023.
A number of these people have learned that their passports were only blocked when they arrived at the airport to go to foreign destinations or went to the passport office for the renewal of their documents. Dozens of these people have now approached the High Court of Lahore (LHC).
While hearing these petitions, the LHC summoned those responsible for the passport as well as the files.
In many of these cases, the passports authorities have already submitted files to the court showing that passports have been put on black list. The Department of Passports and Immigration has declared to the LHC that the task of black passports is not under their jurisdiction and that the Ministry of the Interior includes and deletes the names of the black list and the exit control list (ECL).
They said the names of the petitioners had been added to the blacklist due to their alleged involvement in the May 9 incidents. People whose names are on the black list or whose passports have expired cannot renew their document until their names are deleted from the blacklist.
Violent demonstrations broke out across the country after the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on May 9, 2023.
During the turmoil, attacks were carried out on 39 military facilities across the country between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 9. Most of these attacks – 23 – took place in Punjab, followed from 8 to KP, 7 in the Sindh and one in Balutchistan.
The main attacked military installations included the GHQ in Rawalpindi, the body of the body commander in Lahore, the Air Force base of Mianwali and the offices of ISI in Faisalabad, Sargodha and Rawalpindi.
