PHC orders issuance of POCs for Afghan men married to Pakistani women

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has directed the issuance of Pakistan Origin Cards (POCs) to 109 Afghan nationals married to Pakistani women.

Peshawar High Court judges Justices Arshad Ali and Waqar Ahmed heard the pleas of Afghan nationals who sought POCs. The applicants argued that the lack of travel documents for their Afghan husbands was causing difficulties for their Pakistani spouses.

After hearing the argument, the court ruled in favour of all 109 Afghan nationals, declaring them eligible for POCs.

The court directed the authorities concerned to issue POCs to Afghan nationals in accordance with the law.

Advocate Saifullah Muhib Kakakhel, who represented the applicants, stated that he was seized with 102 cases involving Afghan nationals.

“Many of these individuals had their children born in Pakistan and are currently pursuing education, leading to various challenges for their families,” he said.

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Kakakhel explained that the Pakistani women married to Afghan nationals hail from different areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“Some lacked Afghan passports, while others did not possess Afghan citizen cards, making them ineligible for Pakistan Origin Cards. However, this issue would be resolved following the court’s verdict,” he said.

He highlighted that holders of POCs enjoy all rights as non-citizen Pakistanis but are unable to obtain passports or cast votes.

It should be noted that on November 17, the PHC had previously issued an order to issue PCOs to five Afghan citizens, marking a precedent in facilitating the legal status of Afghan nationals married to Pakistanis.