PHC directs Afghan spouses of Pakistanis to seek origin cards from Nadra

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has disposed of several petitions filed by Pakistani citizens seeking the issuance of Pakistan Origin Cards (POC) for their Afghan spouses, instructing them to approach the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) for this purpose.

A bench comprising Justice Wiqar Ahmad and Justice Farah Jamshed issued the orders while hearing multiple petitions in which either the husband or wife was a Pakistani national and the spouse was from Afghanistan. The court clarified that applicants should submit their requests for POC directly to Nadra.

The bench further directed law enforcement agencies to refrain from taking any coercive measures, including deportation, against any family member of the petitioners. This protection will remain in place until Nadra makes a final decision on the POC application or until six months have passed since the application was filed, whichever comes first. The court emphasized the importance of safeguarding family unity during this process.

One of the cases involved an Afghan woman, Shakila Naz, who stated that she had lawfully married a Pakistani national, Mohammad Naeem, and that they have five sons together. She was among the petitioners seeking relief from the court regarding the issuance of a POC.

The PHC’s decision provides a clear procedural path for Afghan spouses of Pakistani citizens to regularize their status through Nadra, while also ensuring that families are not separated during the application process.