PHC disposes of asylum application of 108 Afghan artists, musicians

PESHAWAR, Mar 25 (APP): A division bench of Peshawar High Court (PHC) disposed of the asylum application of Afghan artists, while issuing important instructions to them.

According to the details, the Peshawar High Court dismissed the application of about 108 Afghan artists to prevent their deportation while directing them to approach the relevant authorities to obtain visas for staying in Pakistan.

The bench comprising of Justice Waqar Ahmed and Justice Farah Jamshed observed that if the petitioners do not get any relief from the government, they would approach the court again.

The bench dismissed the petition filed jointly by Afghan musicians, singers and other artists after a brief hearing.

The petitioners included Hashmatullah Omid and other artists, who had requested the court to ensure their registration, documentation and temporary legal stay permit in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Interior, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Home Department and the United Nations Refugees Agency (UNHCR).

The petitioners said that if they were sent back to Afghanistan from Pakistan, they would face serious threats from the Taliban regime.

They also requested the court to uphold the fact that sending them back to Afghanistan in the current circumstances is illegal and unconstitutional.

The court observed that it would be appropriate for the petitioners to first approach the government for obtaining visas.

The petition made federal and provincial secretaries, Director General of National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), Director General of Immigration and Passport, Director Federal Investigation Agency, Khaber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Secretary and Home Secretary, UNHCR Country

Representative and Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration as respondents.

The petitioner’s lawyer Babar Khan Yousafzai told the court that his clients were mainly associated with music and singing sector. He said that there were clear restrictions on music and arts by the Taliban regime and artists have been targeted.