The Peshawar High Court has dismissed a petition filed by over 100 Afghan singers and musicians seeking protection from deportation, directing them instead to regularise their stay through proper legal channels.
A two-member bench comprising Waqar Ahmad and Farah Jamshed rejected the plea, which had urged the court to halt their possible repatriation to Afghanistan.
The court observed that the petitioners should first approach the relevant government authorities and apply for valid visas to legalise their residence in Pakistan. The artistes had argued that returning to Afghanistan could pose risks to their safety and livelihoods.
With the dismissal of the petition, the court has effectively placed the responsibility on the artistes to seek administrative relief rather than judicial intervention.
