PHC wants cards issued to Afghan spouses

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday directed the relevant officials to facilitate the two Pakistani women, who had married to Afghan men, in getting the Pakistan-origin cards (POCs) as per the law.

Two separate benches of the PHC comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Shakeel Ahmad heard the writ petitions of the two women seeking the issuance of the Pakistan origin cards to their Afghan spouses.

Tariq Afghan Advocate appearing for the petitioners told the court that Shahida Bibi and Tasleem Bibi, who were sisters belonging to Peshawar, had married to two Afghan brothers named Islamuddin and Ikramuddin. He said that the two couples had five and six children, respectively, and they were facing problems with getting the identification documents. Tariq Afghan said that the larger bench of the Peshawar High Court had issued a detailed verdict in a similar case where directions were issued to the relevant officials to facilitate the Pakistani women married to Afghan men. After hearing the arguments, the bench directed the relevant officials to facilitate the women seeking the issuance of the Pakistan origin cards as per the law.