Pakistan bound to comply with UN conventions on refugees’ rights: SC judge

The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Federation, Apex Committee, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Attorney General in the case of eviction of illegal Afghan citizens, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A three-judge SC bench headed by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood heard the petition against the return of Afghan refugees on Friday.

The court said that the issue of eviction of illegal Afghan nationals is also a matter of constitutional interpretation, the Attorney General should assist at the point of constituting a larger bench on the issue.

Petitioner Farhatullah Babar took the position that the caretaker government does not have a mandate to evict illegal citizens, the Afghan citizens who are being evicted have already applied for political asylum and this court has jurisdiction to protect the rights of citizens. Under Articles 4, 9, 10-A and Article 25, the fundamental human rights are affected.

Justice Yahya Afridi remarked that those who have been living here for 40 years should assist the court on whether they should stay here.

Justice Ayesha Malik said that UN conventions protect the rights of refugees, and Pakistan is bound by these UN conventions.

The court issued a notice and adjourned the hearing of the case till next week.

Reporter Amanat Gishkori