The Peshawar High Court on Thursday issued a temporary order barring the repatriation of 16 Afghan transgender women and directed authorities to stop harassing registered Afghan transgender migrants residing in Pakistan.
The order came in response to a writ petition filed by the transgender women against their potential deportation under a government decision to repatriate all Afghan nationals. Their lawyer argued that their lives would be in danger if they were sent back to Afghanistan, where persecution of transgender individuals is widespread.
Justice Shakeel Ahmed and Justice Waqar Ahmed heard the petition, acknowledging the precarious situation of Afghan transgenders in their home country. However, the court also clarified that foreign nationals do not have the same rights as Pakistani citizens and can only stay if they have valid visas.
Despite this, the judges noted that even registered Afghan refugees with valid documentation, including Proof of Registration (POR) cards, were being harassed by authorities. They deemed such actions unacceptable and damaging to Pakistan’s international reputation.
Therefore, the High Court directed authorities to halt the repatriation of the 16 Afghan transgender women and keep their deportation on hold until further proceedings.
