ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ruled that citizens cannot be stopped from travelling abroad without fulfilling the legal requirements, striking down a provision that allowed names to be placed on the Passport Control List (PCL) on the recommendation of government institutions.
The court held that placing a person’s name on the PCL requires clear legal authority and compliance with the prescribed legal procedure.
Justice Raja Inaam Amin Minhas issued the judgment while hearing a petition filed by a citizen, Moinuddin, who had sought relief after being stopped from travelling abroad for Umrah.
The court declared the relevant provision of Rule 22(2)(b) of the Passport Rules, 2021 unconstitutional and directed authorities to remove Moinuddin’s name from the PCL within 15 days.
The judgment also criticised the manner in which passport authorities dealt with the matter. The court noted that it had earlier directed the authorities, on January 15, 2026, to decide the petitioner’s case within one week, but no decision was issued until contempt proceedings and notices were initiated.
The court observed that the subsequent document submitted by the passport authorities could not be treated as a valid “speaking order” merely because it carried that title. According to the judgment, the order did not identify the relevant legal provision, the competent authority or the applicable rule.
The court stressed that compliance with judicial orders was not a mere formality and that authorities were required to follow court directions in substance.
The ruling reinforces the requirement that restrictions on a citizen’s right to travel must have a lawful basis and follow the procedure prescribed by law.