Staff Reporter:Â
Quetta – The Balochistan High Court will hear a constitutional petition on Thursday, September 18, 2025, seeking a six-month extension in the repatriation deadline for Afghan refugees living in Pakistan.
The petition was filed by senior lawyer Syed Nazir Agha Advocate, who argued that the forced expulsion of Afghan nationals would create a humanitarian crisis and violate both Pakistan’s Constitution and international law.
In his petition, Agha highlighted several key concerns:
- Severe winter is approaching in Afghanistan, which could endanger returning refugees.
- Thousands of Afghan children are currently enrolled in schools in Pakistan and are only two months away from their examinations.
- Many Afghan families would lose their properties and livelihoods if forced to leave abruptly.
- A significant number of Afghan men and women have married Pakistani citizens, making them eligible for nationality under the Pakistan Citizenship Act 1951.
The petition further argues that the forced deportation of Afghan refugees is in violation of Articles 2A, 9, 25, and 25A of Pakistan’s 1973 Constitution, in addition to international humanitarian obligations.
A two-member bench of the Balochistan High Court will take up the case on September 18. The outcome is expected to have far-reaching implications for refugee policy and human rights in the region.
