Court said petitioner must cancel 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 decide, within one month, on the petitioner’s application for his Proof of Registration (PoR) card, and ordered that he not be deported until a decision is made.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the petition seeking Pakistani citizenship for the Afghan refugee and protection from deportation. The petitioner’s lawyer argued that applications had been filed with the Ministry of Saffron and Nadra, but no decision had been taken yet.

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Justice Kayani observed that although the petitioner is an Afghan refugee, he now knows that his parents are Pakistani. The court observed that the petitioner should first get his PoR card canceled and then apply for citizenship as cancellation of PoR card is mandatory for seeking Pakistani citizenship.

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