The Federal Constitutional Court has suspended a key ruling of the Lahore High Court that had struck down parts of the Passport Rules 2021, restoring the federal government’s authority to block passports and impose travel bans on deportees and suspected human traffickers.

A three-judge bench led by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi granted interim relief while hearing an appeal filed by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports.

The court also issued notices to respondents, including citizen Farhan Ali and officials of the Federal Investigation Agency.

The decision allows authorities to continue placing individuals on the Passport Control List (PCL) and restricting international travel until a final verdict is issued.

The case originated when Farhan Ali, a resident of Vehari, was deported from Iran. Following his return, authorities placed his name on the PCL, inactivated his passport, and imposed a five-year travel ban.

He later challenged the move in the Lahore High Court, which ruled in his favor in December 2025, declaring certain provisions of the law beyond legal authority.

However, the government argued that the high court exceeded its jurisdiction by striking down provisions that were not directly challenged.

Officials also maintained that Ali had violated immigration laws and international norms.

In its petition, the government cited Pakistan’s commitments under the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organized Crime, stressing the need to curb illegal migration and human trafficking.

It argued that restricting travel for deportees was a lawful measure and that the right to travel abroad under Article 15 of the Constitution of Pakistan is not absolute.

The federal government has urged the court to uphold the validity of the Passport Rules and allow authorities to impose time-bound travel restrictions on individuals involved in illegal migration.

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