ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Monday reversed its previous decision to halt the issuance of Pakistani passports to individuals seeking political asylum abroad.
The reversal was decided during a high-level meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
The meeting, which focused on the welfare of overseas Pakistanis, was attended by key officials including the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the Secretary of Interior, the Director General of Immigration and Passports (DG IMPASS), and senior representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During the session, Deputy Prime Minister Dar received a comprehensive briefing from the Secretary of Interior and the DG IMPASS regarding the facilitation of timely passport issuance for Pakistanis living overseas.
The meeting resolved to immediately withdraw the circular dated June 5, 2024, which had suspended the issuance of Pakistani passports to asylum seekers abroad.
Furthermore, Ishaq Dar announced that passports for overseas Pakistanis would be issued within sixty days, a decision taken to focus on the welfare of overseas Pakistanis.
He emphasized the importance of efficient services for overseas Pakistanis and assured that the new timeframe would be strictly adhered to.
It may be recalled that the Interior Ministry on June 5 had announced that it will not issue passports to its citizens who would get asylum in other countries.
In this regard, Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had instructed his department to halt the issuance of passports to Pakistanis who apply for asylum abroad. This directive was seen as a measure to enhance national security and safety.
The measure aimed to form part of a broader strategy to stem unauthorized migration by Pakistanis claiming asylum. Media sources had indicated that anyone applying for asylum will no longer qualify for a Pakistani passport.
Additionally, the Interior Ministry had stated that the passports of those already seeking asylum would not be canceled or renewed, reflecting the government’s attempt to tightly regulate the passport issuance system.
Following Minister Naqvi’s orders, the Interior Ministry had issued an official notification to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant bodies to ensure the thorough application of this new policy. The policy had elicited varied responses, with some applauding it as a necessary step to prevent passport misuse and bolster national security, while others criticize it for potentially infringing on the rights of individuals to seek asylum.
However, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court on June 25, challenging the Interior Ministry’s notification banning the issuance of passports to asylum seekers abroad.
Advocate Saim Chaudhry filed the petition under Section 184(3), and requested the apex court to nullify the government’s June 5 policy about banning the issuance of passports to asylum seekers abroad.
“The notification of passport ban is discriminatory and against fundamental rights,” the petition reads. The federal government and DG Passport have been made respondents in the petition.
The petition requested to immediately stop implementation of the government’s policy as the notification did not specify the reasons for the ban. The petition claimed that government notification is contrary to Articles 10, 10A, and 25 of the Constitution.
