IHC Declares Passport Rules Clause as Unconstitutional

News Desk
ISLAMABAD:The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday declared Rule 22(2)(b) of the Passport Rules 2021 as contradictory to the Constitution of Pakistan, terming the provision void and ineffective against fundamental rights.
The landmark ruling came during a high-profile hearing addressing citizen grievances regarding travel document restrictions imposed by state authorities without due legal process.

Delivering the verdict, the court observed that restricting citizens from obtaining passports infringed upon their constitutional right to freedom of movement and travel.
Legal experts representing the petitioner argued that the impugned clause empowered authorities to arbitrarily withhold or deny passports, bypassing established judicial scrutiny and fair trial principles guaranteed under Article 10-A of the Constitution.
The ruling carries profound implications for thousands of citizens whose travel documents were previously withheld or delayed under disputed executive memorandums and administrative clauses. Civil rights advocates have widely hailed the judgment as a vital step toward reinforcing individual liberties and curtailing unchecked bureaucratic discretion within Pakistan’s passport issuance framework.
Following the verdict, the Ministry of Interior and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports are expected to review the struck-down clause and initiate administrative adjustments.
Legal analysts anticipate that the detailed judgment will prompt further scrutiny of subordinate legislation across federal departments to ensure complete alignment with constitutional mandates.