Relief for Pakistanis deported from foreign countries due to overstay

ISLAMABAD – In a landmark decision, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) declared it illegal to include a citizen’s name on the Passport Control List (PCL) solely for being deported from another country due to an overstay. The ruling clarified that deportation for visa overstay does not justify imposing a travel ban on a citizen. The court ordered the immediate removal of the affected individual’s name from the list, emphasizing the protection of fundamental constitutional rights. Justice Muhammad Asif, in a detailed four-page judgment, rejected the federal government’s argument that such listings protect visa regulations and national prestige. The court stressed that travel restrictions can only be applied in cases involving a crime, security threat, or indisputable evidence. Imposing bans without these grounds violates citizens’ constitutional rights to freedom of movement and employment abroad.