Arab woman’s plea premature, rules PHC

Staff Report

PESHAWAR: A division bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC) disposed of a joint petition on Thursday by an Arab woman and her Pakistani husband, ruling that her petition was "premature" for seeking Pakistani citizenship.

The PHC bench consisting of Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan and Justice Ijazul Hassan said Shaikha Muhammad Humoud Alhamadi from the United Arab Emirates who married Juma Raz Khan, resident of Karak on April 7, was not an "aggrieved party" as she already had a valid Pakistani visa up to June 18.

The court disposed of the petition, saying that her writ petition was "premature for hearing".

Interior Ministry Section Officer Salahuddin told the court that the ministry had not received Shaikha’s application seeking Pakistani citizenship. "The application by the petitioner for citizenship will be considered properly if sent to the Interior Ministry," he added. Chief Justice Tariq Pervez Khan directed the Interior Ministry to "properly scrutinise" Shaikha’s application before "reaching any decision."

Shaikha and Khan had pleaded that the Karak Police had lodged a first information report against Khan and his family on April 11 under Section 342 of the Pakistan Penal Code for "illegally confining" Shaikha, alleging that the Interior Ministry wanted to deport her after the UAE Embassy in Islamabad "pressured" the Pakistani government into doing so.

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