The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued notices to the Director General Immigration, seeking a response to a petition that challenges the offloading of three passengers, including a husband and wife, who were allegedly prevented from traveling for Umrah.
Court Proceedings
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir presided over the hearing of the petition filed by Asad Aslam, Imran, and Ishrat Imran. The petitioners, represented by their counsel Advocate Tariq Muhammad Khan Marwat, contested the decision to offload them from their flight on June 18 at the airport.
Petitioners' Argument
The counsel argued that the passengers were stopped from traveling on the pretext that they did not have confirmed hotel bookings. He contended that the offloading was unlawful and violated their fundamental rights to travel. The court has now sought a formal response from the immigration authorities to explain the grounds for the offloading.
Impact and Next Steps
The case highlights the challenges faced by Pakistani pilgrims traveling for Umrah, particularly regarding documentation requirements. The IHC is expected to hear the matter further after receiving the DG Immigration's reply, which will clarify the official stance and procedures involved in such offloading decisions.
