Islamabad High Court judge questions legal status of Afghan students

Islamabad High Court judge questions legal status of Afghan students.

Key points

• Malik Asad Published August 29, 2026 Updated August 29, 2026 08: 46am.
• The case reservations the extension of visas of 87 Afghan students who came to Pakistan in 2023 to pursue their studies.
• The lawyer submitted that the 87 Afghan students had arrived in Pakistan in 2023, when, according to him, the national policy regarding Afghan students was different.
• "Under which law have you taken power of attorney from these 87 Afghan students?" Justice Soomro asked.
• The judge then questioned the authority under which the lawyer had obtained power of attorney from the 87 Afghan students.

Malik Asad Published August 29, 2026 Updated August 29, 2026 08: 46am. Join our Whatsapp Channel. Add Dawn as a trusted source.

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has raised significant legal questions over the maintainability of a constitutional petition seeking extension of visas for 87 Afghan students at present residing in Pakistan on student visas.

Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro raised questions regarding the legal status of the Afghan students as well as the authority of their lawyer to represent them before the court.

During the hearing, the judge questioned the petitioner's counsel regarding the circumstances in which the Afghan students were allowed to enter Pakistan and whether similar treatment could be sought by students from other countries.

"Sir, we are at present at war with the Afghans. If Indian students come, will you allow them to come too?" Justice Soomro asked the counsel.

For context, the lawyer submitted that the 87 Afghan students had arrived in Pakistan in 2023, when, according to him, the national policy regarding Afghan students was different.

According to Justice Soomro, the petition had been filed under the constitutional jurisdiction of the high court and questioned whether the Constitution provided Afghan nationals with a right to invoke such jurisdiction.

For context, the counsel argued that the students had entered Pakistan on valid student visas for a period of one year and that their presence in the country had been permitted by the administration.

For context, the judge then questioned the authority under which the lawyer had obtained power of attorney from the 87 Afghan students.

Notably, the court additionally suggested that the students should approach the Afghan embassy in connection with their matter instead of seeking relief through the constitutional jurisdiction of the Islamabad High Court.

"You should go to the Afghan embassy and your case will be heard there. The Afghan embassy will contact the Pakistani embassy, " the judge remarked.

According to The petitioner's counsel, he would assist the court on the legal questions raised during the proceedings.

Notably, the case reservations the extension of visas of 87 Afghan students who came to Pakistan in 2023 to pursue their studies.

For context, the petitioners have sought relief regarding their continued stay in Pakistan after the expiry or impending expiry of their student visas. The court subsequently adjourned further hearing of the case. Published in Dawn, August 29th, 2026.

Malik Asad is an Islamabad-based reporter for Dawn with two decades of experience covering legal affairs, judicial developments, and the civil bureaucracy. He can be discovered on X at @asadrp.

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