IHC voids law allowing agencies to curb travel
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared unconstitutional a provision of the Passport Rules, 2021, that allowed the placement of a citizen’s name on the Passport Control List (PCL) on the recommendation of government agencies or departments without identifying a competent authority or providing legal safeguards. Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas, in a detailed judgement, declared the…
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) of Pakistan has declared unconstitutional a provision in the Passport Rules, 2021, which allowed government agencies to place a citizen's name on the Passport Control List (PCL) without identifying a competent authority or providing legal safeguards. The court ruled that this second limb of Rule 22(2)(b) was ultra vires the Passports Act, 1974, and Articles 4, 9, 10A, and 15 of the Constitution.
The case involved Moinuddin, who was prevented from traveling to Saudi Arabia for Umrah despite possessing a valid passport, visa, and ticket. The IHC held that the Passport Control List's maintenance was an administrative function and did not confer jurisdiction to decide whose name could be placed on the list.
Brief written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
