Islamabad High Court judge questions legal status of Afghan students

ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court has posed critical legal queries concerning the viability of a constitutional petition requesting an extension of visas for 87 Afghan students presently residing in Pakistan on student visas. Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro questioned the legal standing of the Afghan students and the lawyer's authority to represent them in court.

During the hearing, Justice Soomro inquired about the conditions under which the Afghan students entered Pakistan and whether the same treatment could be requested by students from other nations. The lawyer stated that the 87 Afghan students arrived in Pakistan in 2023, when the national policy for Afghan students was reportedly different.

Justice Soomro remarked that the petition was filed under the high court's constitutional jurisdiction and questioned whether the Constitution granted Afghan nationals the right to invoke such jurisdiction. The lawyer contended that the students had entered Pakistan with valid student visas for a one-year period and that their presence in the country was permitted by the government.

Justice Soomro then questioned the lawyer's authority in obtaining power of attorney from the 87 Afghan students. "Under which law have you taken power of attorney from these 87 Afghan students?" Justice Soomro asked. The court also proposed that the students should seek assistance from the Afghan embassy regarding their matter instead of pursuing relief through the Islamabad High Court's constitutional jurisdiction.

"You should go to the Afghan embassy and your case will be heard there. The Afghan embassy will contact the Pakistani embassy," the judge remarked. The petitioner's counsel promised to assist the court in addressing the legal questions raised during the proceedings. The case pertains to the extension of visas for 87 Afghan students who arrived in Pakistan in 2023 to pursue their studies.

The petitioners have sought relief concerning their continued residency in Pakistan after the expiration or impending expiration of their student visas. The court subsequently postponed the hearing of the case.