IHC Voids Law Empowering Agencies to Restrict Travel

News Desk
ISLAMABAD: In a landmark ruling protecting fundamental civic liberties, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has declared a key provision of the Passport Rules, 2021, unconstitutional, striking down unchecked powers granted to government agencies to restrict citizens from travelling abroad.
Justice Raja Inaam Ameen Minhas ruled that the second limb of Rule 22(2)(b) is ultra vires the Passports Act, 1974, and violates Articles 4, 9, 10A, and 15 of the Constitution, rendering it entirely devoid of legal effect.
The comprehensive detailed judgement stems from a constitutional petition filed by citizen Moinuddin, who was arbitrarily offloaded at Islamabad International Airport on December 18, 2025, while embarking on a journey to Saudi Arabia for Umrah.
Despite holding a valid Pakistani passport, an authentic Saudi visa, and a confirmed air ticket, the petitioner was barred from boarding without any official justification, formal notice, or legal recourse provided by the stopping agencies.
Legal experts note that the ruling addresses systemic administrative overreach, wherein law enforcement and intelligence departments routinely placed citizens on the Passport Control List (PCL) without identifying a competent authority or establishing robust legal safeguards.
The court highlighted that the petitioner’s passport was never legally impounded, confiscated, cancelled, or inactivated, reaffirming that state agencies cannot arbitrarily curtail freedom of movement without due process of law.
The verdict is expected to prompt an immediate legal review across federal ministries and airport security frameworks to align standard operating procedures with constitutional mandates.
Civil rights advocates have welcomed the decision as a vital check against administrative high-handedness, paving the way for potential challenges by other individuals facing arbitrary travel restrictions.