The constitutional bench of the Sindh High Court has rejected an urgent request to suspend government action regarding the deportation of 28 Turkish nationals residing in Pakistan.
The case was heard by a two-member constitutional bench comprising Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed and Justice Abdul Mubeen Lakho. The petition sought time and interim relief against the deportation of the Turkish citizens.
During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners argued that the applicants were Turkish nationals but had been residing in Afghan refugee camps in Pakistan. The bench questioned when the petitioners had arrived in Pakistan, to which the lawyer responded that they had come around 45 years ago for religious preaching.
Justice Abdul Mubeen Lakho asked whether the petitioners possessed any documents proving their Turkish nationality. The counsel conceded that they did not have any documentary evidence and requested four months’ time to obtain the necessary documents.
Justice Yousuf Ali Saeed observed that the court could not grant relief in such circumstances and advised the petitioners to approach the Turkish consulate or embassy. He further remarked that the court could not restrain the government from deporting foreign nationals and questioned why Turkish citizens were residing in Afghan refugee camps if they were indeed Turkish nationals.
The bench subsequently dismissed the urgent request to suspend the implementation of government measures related to deportation. The court noted that a detailed order would be issued at a later stage.
