PHC approves woman’s travel to visit Afghan husband and children

WEB DESK: The Peshawar High Court has granted a Pakistani woman permission to travel to Afghanistan to meet her Afghan husband and children, ordering her immediate removal from the Passport Control List (PCL). The decision was delivered by a two-judge bench comprising Justice Arshad Ali and Justice Waqar Ahmed.

The petitioner, through her lawyer, explained that she is married to Maywand Akbari, a resident of Afghanistan, where her children also live. She requested permission to travel to see her family but was previously prevented from leaving Pakistan because her name had been placed on the PCL.

During the hearing, an immigration official representing the FIA informed the court that the woman’s name had been included on the list based on the agency’s recommendation. The bench strongly questioned the rationale behind the listing, noting that it contradicted Islamic principles and basic human rights, asking why a woman should be stopped from reuniting with her children and spouse.

After reviewing the arguments, the court ordered the immediate removal of her name from the PCL and allowed her to travel abroad. The judgment emphasized that family bonds and fundamental rights cannot be restricted by unnecessary administrative barriers.