The Peshawar High Court has issued an order preventing the forcible deportation of over 100 Afghan musicians seeking political asylum in Pakistan.

The court has asked the federal government to decide their cases within two months and directed security agencies not to take any action against them during this period. The court has made a concise written decision on this.

The two-page ruling was authored by Justice Waqar Ahmad. During the hearing of the petition filed by Hashmatullah, the petitioners’ lawyer, Mumtaz Ahmad, and Assistant Attorney General Rahat Ali Naqvi, representing the federal government, were present in the court.

The petitioners claimed that they are from Afghanistan but migrated to Pakistan after the Taliban took control as their lives were threatened and they lost their livelihood. In Pakistan, they claimed to have been subjected to harassment and threats of forced deportation, which they claimed was a violation of human rights. They argued that under international laws the Pakistani government cannot forcibly deport them and filed a petition in the Peshawar High Court against such actions.

After hearing arguments from both sides, the two-member bench disposed of the petitions and directed the federal government or its designated officials to decide on the asylum applications of the Afghan musicians within two months. The court ordered that the musicians should not be forcibly deported during this period.

In addition, the decision stated that Afghan musicians can also apply for asylum with UNHCR and if their cases remain unresolved within two months, the federal interior minister should allow them to stay temporarily in Pakistan under a political framework.