ISLAMABAD: The Federal Constitutional Court of Pakistan (FCC) has suspended the Lahore High Court’s (LHC) decision and restored the annulled provisions of the Passport and Immigration Rules, effectively reinstating the government’s authority to place citizens on the Passport Control List (PCL) and deactivate passports.
A two-member bench headed by Justice Hassan Azhar Rizvi heard the case on Monday and formally admitted the government’s appeal for regular hearing. Notices were issued to the parties, and further proceedings were adjourned for an indefinite period.
During the hearing, Justice Rizvi inquired whether the case pertained to individuals attempting to travel abroad illegally. The Additional Attorney General informed the court that a citizen, Farhan Ali, had illegally traveled to Iran and was later deported. Following the unlawful act, his name was placed on the Passport Control List.
Counsel for the petitioner, Amir Rehman, argued that the inclusion of the petitioner’s name on the Passport Control List and the deactivation of his passport had been challenged in the court.
The bench also questioned whether the individual had traveled abroad on his own or was involved in facilitating illegal migration to Italy for monetary gain. The court further sought details regarding the Federal Investigation Agency’s inquiry. In response, the Additional Attorney General stated that complete information had not yet been obtained from the FIA.
The Additional Attorney General further informed the court that the Lahore High Court had previously struck down Rules 3 and 10 of the Passport and Immigration Rules. However, the Constitutional Court has now suspended that ruling, restoring the provisions for the time being.
Meanwhile, Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) Chief Justice Aminuddin Khan Monday stressed constitutional imperative of timely justice and underscored the need for accelerated disposal of cases and directed all apex court benches to adopt effective case management practices to substantially reduce the existing backlog.
He convened a full court meeting here to enhance judicial efficiency and institutional performance. The full court meeting was attended by all judges of the FCC as well as its Registrar Mohammad Hafeezullah Khan. The deliberations focused on critical administrative and judicial matters aimed at strengthening institutional performance, improving operational efficiency, and reinforcing the court’s commitment to the expeditious dispensation of justice.
Several key decisions of strategic importance were taken, which are anticipated to have significant and long-term impact on the functioning of the court. The court reaffirmed its resolve to ensure prompt adjudication in order to uphold public confidence in the judicial system and the constitutional order.
Similarly, the meeting also reviewed ongoing capacity-building initiatives within the institution. The CJP expressed appreciation for the in-house training programmes being conducted for ministerial staff (BS 8-16). These initiatives are aimed at enhancing administrative competence and professional standards across the court’s workforce, says a press release issued here.
It added that the training modules, encompassing information technology proficiency, workplace discipline, and office ethics were acknowledged as integral to fostering a modern, efficient, and responsive institutional framework.
The chief justice highlighted that continuous professional development of staff is indispensable for ensuring administrative excellence and institutional integrity.
Reiterating the court’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and adherence to constitutional principles, the CJP stressed the importance of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and accountability at all levels.
