FCC suspends LHC ruling on passport rules, restores federal govt’s power to impose travel bans

The Federal Constitutional Court has suspended a Lahore High Court (LHC) ruling that had struck down key provisions of the Passport Rules 2021, restoring the federal government’s authority to inactivate passports and impose travel restrictions.

As per media reports, the interim order allows authorities to continue placing individuals on the Passport Control List (PCL) and restrict their movement abroad until a final decision is issued.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi issued notices to respondents while hearing an appeal filed by the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports. The case also involves citizen Farhan Ali and officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The matter arose after Farhan Ali, a resident of Vehari, was deported from Iran. Following his return, the FIA recommended his inclusion on the PCL, after which the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports inactivated his passport and imposed a five-year travel restriction.

The Lahore High Court’s Multan bench had ruled in December 2025 that Rule 23 of the Passport Rules exceeded the scope of Section 8 of the Passport Act, 1974, and declared it invalid. It also found that provisions allowing long-term travel restrictions under Rule 22(2) were beyond the parent law.

In its appeal, the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports argued that the high court had invalidated provisions that were not directly challenged in the original petition. It also maintained that Farhan Ali had been deported for violating immigration laws.

Government counsel said the restriction was imposed following deportation, while the petition argued that powers under the Passport Act allowed authorities to regulate passport use, including inactivation, through delegated authority.

The appeal further cited international commitments on preventing human trafficking and argued that restricting travel of deportees was consistent with those obligations. It also stated that the constitutional right to travel abroad is subject to reasonable limitations.

The Directorate General of Immigration and Passports has requested the court to set aside the high court ruling and uphold the validity of placing individuals on the PCL for defined periods.