The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has ruled that Proof of Registration (PoR) cards and Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC) are no longer valid documents for legal stay in Pakistan.
The decision came as the court rejected bail petitions of around 50 Afghan nationals who had been arrested for residing illegally in the country.
A single-member bench headed by Chief Justice SM Attique Shah issued similar orders in all cases, stating that the accused individuals did not possess any valid legal authorization to remain in Pakistan at the time of their arrest.
The court observed that their continued stay in the country was unlawful under existing laws.
According to the ruling, the accused individuals appear to have committed an offence under Foreigners Act, 1946, which deals with illegal entry and stay of foreign nationals.
The court also referred to Section 14-A of the law, which restricts the granting of bail to non-nationals residing in Pakistan without proper permission.
This landmark ruling means that Afghan nationals can no longer rely on PoR cards or Afghan Citizen Cards as legal proof to stay in Pakistan.
Previously, these documents were issued to Afghan refugees and nationals as a form of identification and temporary registration.
However, the court emphasized that individuals must now possess valid and current authorization from competent authorities to legally reside in the country.
The decision carries significant implications for thousands of Afghan nationals living in Pakistan under these documents.
Legal experts say the ruling reflects a strict judicial stance on immigration laws and enforcement, particularly regarding undocumented or inadequately documented foreign nationals.
The rejection of bail pleas further signals that authorities are likely to take tough action against illegal residency cases under Pakistani law.
