SC disposes of pleas challenging repatriation of Afghan refugees

The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday disposed of the petitions filed against the eviction of Afghan refugees from Pakistan, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A six-member bench, headed by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the petitions.

During the hearing, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, while addressing the petitioners, remarked that their pleas were against the caretaker government, which was now history. “You can file a new petition in case you have reservations over the present government’s policy on Afghans.”

The judge questioned whether the petitioners did not want the Afghans to be expelled from the country. 

Advocate Omar Ijaz Gilani said the purpose of filing these petitions was to enforce basic human rights. 

Justice Mazhar said the country’s constitution guaranteed these rights to Pakistanis. 

Justice Jamal Mandokhel remarked that the Afghan refugees had been living in Pakistan for the last 40 years. “Their kids have now grown up. Should we throw their kids into the sea?”

Justice Musarrat Hilali said that her province had porous borders. “In this situation, who is responsible for terrorism?”  

Advocate Gilani said that Pakistan’s Citizenship Act gave citizenship to every child born in the country. 

Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi opined that citizenship was granted to registered, and not unregistered foreigners.

Justice Hilali said that when Pakistanis could hardly meet their own needs, then why they should share the burden of aliens. 

Reporter: Amanat Gishkori