Pakistan – Pakistan’s Supreme Court on Thursday suspended a Peshawar High Court ruling that would have granted Pakistan Origin Cards (POCs) to Afghan men married to Pakistani women. This move reignites the debate surrounding the status of hundreds of families with mixed citizenship in both countries.
The POC card is a document issued to foreigners of Pakistani origin or those with family ties in Pakistan. It allows its holders to enter Pakistan without a prior visa and grants them certain privileges such as residency, opening bank accounts, and owning property.
The BBC reported that the Peshawar High Court’s earlier ruling aimed to regularize the status of several Afghan men married to Pakistani women. These men have been living in the country for many years. However, government authorities objected to the decision, arguing that granting these cards could open the door to their misuse for purposes related to permanent residency or citizenship.
This development comes amid the Pakistani government’s intensified crackdown on undocumented migrants, particularly those of Afghan nationality. Islamabad began implementing a plan last year to repatriate Afghan refugees, a move that has triggered a growing humanitarian crisis at the border.
According to UN estimates, approximately 1.7 million Afghan refugees reside in Pakistan. Many were born in the country or married Pakistani citizens, creating complex legal situations regarding residency and identity rights.
This issue is expected to spark widespread debate within legal and human rights circles. The discussion will focus particularly on the future of mixed-nationality families and the boundaries between national sovereignty and humanitarian considerations.
