The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan has restored key provisions of the Passport and Immigration Rules, effectively reinstating the government’s authority to place citizens on the Passport Control List (PCL) and declare passports inactive under certain conditions.
The decision came from a two-member bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi, which suspended the Lahore High Court’s earlier ruling that had struck down specific clauses of the rules. The court also issued notices to all parties and declared the government’s appeal admissible for hearing.
With this ruling, the government’s powers under the contested provisions have been reinstated, including the authority to restrict or deactivate passports of individuals under investigation or involved in illegal activities. Officials say these measures are intended to strengthen immigration control and prevent misuse of travel documents.
During the hearing, Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi raised questions regarding the nature of the case, asking whether it involved individuals involved in illegal migration attempts, commonly referred to as “dunki” routes.
The Additional Attorney General, Amir Rehman, informed the court that the case involved a citizen named Farhan Ali, who had reportedly traveled illegally to Iran and was later deported. He stated that the individual’s name was added to the Passport Control List due to unlawful activities, which were subsequently challenged in court.
The judge further inquired whether the individual was involved in personal travel violations or allegedly facilitating illegal migration for others in exchange for money, and what investigations had been conducted by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). The court was told that FIA had not yet fully provided detailed findings on the matter.
The government’s counsel also highlighted that the Lahore High Court had earlier declared Rules 3 and 10 of the Passport and Immigration Regulations invalid, which had significantly limited administrative authority over passport control mechanisms.
By suspending the Lahore High Court’s judgment, the Federal Constitutional Court has restored the previous legal framework, allowing authorities to resume actions under the reinstated provisions. The case has been adjourned indefinitely for further proceedings.
Legal experts suggest that the ruling could have wide-ranging implications for immigration enforcement and citizens’ travel rights, as it reinforces the state’s discretionary powers in matters related to national security and border control.
