Pakistan's federal government on Tuesday told the country's Supreme Court that the validity of Afghan migrants’ Proof of Registration (PoR) cards has been extended until July 30, 2025.
The number of Afghans holding this ID card in Pakistan is about 1.3 million.
As the Constitutional Court resumes hearing of petitions against the mass deportation of Afghan refugees from Pakistan on Tuesday, the federal government has assured the country's Supreme Court that the validity of the PoR registration certificate cards has been extended until June 30, 2025, Pakistani newspaper Dawn reported.
Following the Pakistani government's decision to deport Afghan refugees en masse in October 2023, several lawsuits have been filed by the coalition of civil society activists, human rights activists, and former senators.
According to the Dawn newspaper, the federal government has assured the Supreme Court that all Afghan refugees who register themselves in Pakistan, including holders of Afghan Citizen Cards (ACC), will enjoy full legal protection and will not be detained or deported.
According to a July 22, 2024, announcement by Pakistan's Ministry of States and Frontier Regions, the deadline for Certificate of Registration or POR or ICC cards will be extended until June 30, 2025.
According to the Dawn newspaper, the total number of PoR and ACC card holders residing in Pakistan is estimated at 1.3 million and 700,000, respectively.
In recent weeks, following the escalation of tensions between Islamabad and the Taliban in Kabul, Pakistani security forces have launched extensive efforts to arrest and deport Afghan refugees, especially from the capital, Islamabad. In the past few days, many pictures have been published of house-to-house search operations in Islamabad and some other areas.
