The Karnataka High Court on Thursday rejected a petition filed by a Mysuru-based woman seeking additional time for her three Pakistani-national children to remain in India, following a central government directive ordering the departure of all Pakistani nationals by April 30 in the wake of heightened national security concerns.
The petitioner, Ramsha Jehan, an Indian citizen, had travelled to India from Pakistan on January 4, 2025, with her three minor children—aged 8, 4, and 3—to attend a family wedding. Her husband, Mohammad Farooq, is a resident of Pishin in Balochistan, and the children hold Pakistani citizenship under Sharia-based marriage provisions.
The family was initially granted visas valid until February 17, which were later extended to June 18. However, after the Pahalgam terror attack, the Union Government issued a circular on April 25, revoking all temporary visas issued to Pakistani citizens, requiring them to leave India by April 30.
In her petition, Ramsha stated that despite her efforts, she was unable to return the children to Pakistan by the deadline. She claimed to have taken the children to the Wagah border on April 28, but the crossing could not be completed.
Presiding over the matter, Justice M.G. Uma upheld the government’s decision, stating that the directive was issued in the interest of national security. “The government has taken this conscious decision to safeguard the citizens of India. In this circumstance, I do not find any reason to interfere with the government’s decision. Hence, the petition is dismissed,” the court ruled.
During the hearing, Deputy Solicitor General H. Shanthi Bhushan opposed the plea, highlighting that the petitioner had not challenged the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) order that had revoked the children’s visas.
The High Court’s decision reinforces the Centre’s tough stance on immigration controls amid security concerns following cross-border incidents.
