PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court has stopped law enforcing agencies from deporting an Afghan family seeking resettlement in USA, fearing persecution under the current regime in Afghanistan.

A bench consisting of Justice Waqar Ahmad and Justice Kamran Hayat Miankhel sought response of the ministry of interior and directorate general of immigration and passport within a fortnight to a petition jointly filed by an Afghan national Faridoon and six of his family members.

The petitioner claimed that he had served in different non-governmental organisations controlled and funded by the US government and had to come to Pakistan along with his family four years ago after the Taliban took over government in Afghanistan.

The bench fixed Jun 29 for next hearing, directing that the instant petition should be clubbed with other identical petitions of Afghan families seeking resettlement in a third country.

Petitioners fear persecution if deported to Afghanistan

The bench also directed the interior ministry to obtain update regarding the status of the case of the petitioners from the forum concerned.

Advocate Ahmad Nasir Kundi appeared for the petitioners and stated that Mr Faridoon had served in different organisations during the tenure of former regime in Afghanistan.

He stated that the petitioners had rushed to Pakistan fearing they would be persecuted by the present government there. He added that they had visited Pakistan on valid visas.

The counsel stated that the petitioners had applied for US refugee visa and their applications were processed and were directed to manage US travel arrangements.

He referred to letters issued to the petitioners by the US Embassy in Islamabad in support of his submission.

He said that the petitioner was also approached by the UNHCR, which had conducted his interview and now they were waiting for a decision on their US visas.

He expressed fear that the petitioners might be apprehended and deported by the law enforcing agencies in the ongoing campaign of repatriating illegally staying Afghan nationals.

He referred to different international conventions and covenants contending that his clients may not be deported till final decision on their pleas for resettlement in the US.

Published in Dawn, May 17th, 2026