PHC orders against forcible return of Afghan musicians

The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has issued an order preventing the forcible return of Afghan musicians to Afghanistan. The decision follows a petition filed by Afghan musicians seeking asylum in Pakistan, which was heard in court yesterday. In a written order issued today, the PHC stated that the petitioners should not be forcibly deported to Afghanistan until the next hearing. Recognising the importance of the matter, the court appointed Advocate Aamir Javed as a judicial assistant. The court's office was instructed to provide the judicial assistant with all relevant case documents. In the previous hearing on June 20, the PHC issued an order to prevent the harassment of Afghan musicians who have applied for political asylum. A two-member bench of the PHC comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Waqar Ahmad, heard the political asylum application of the Afghan musicians. Justice Anwar inquired about their case and asked what the petitioner was seeking. The petitioner's lawyer stated that the musicians did not have any documents and requested that they not be deported from Pakistan. Meanwhile, repatriation of illegal Afghan nationals continues and so far, 620,981 Afghans have returned to their country. Between June 11 and 21, total 13,815 Afghans returned to their country including 5,014 men, 4,087 women and 4,714 children.

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