Pakistani national in Goa challenges Centre's visa clampdown in SC
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New Delhi: A Pakistani national residing in Goa since 2016 on a long-term visa moved the Supreme Court on Thursday, challenging the Centre's recent notification revoking visas for Pakistani nationals in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.
The April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. Following the incident, the Centre issued a notification cancelling visas for Pakistani nationals, except for those specifically mentioned, and set a timeline for their deportation.
On Thursday, the Pakistani national’s counsel brought the matter before a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Sanjay Karol and Satish Chandra Sharma, requesting urgent listing.
"This is a matter of a Pakistani national residing in Goa since 2016 on a long-term visa. After the Pahalgam attack, there is a notification issued by the Government of India," the counsel said.
"You go back," the bench said.
The counsel stated that while the petitioner was willing to return, he should be heard due to a specific condition in his long-term visa.
The bench was informed that the petitioner was born in India. However, the top court questioned why he had not approached the jurisdictional high court instead. In response, the counsel explained that the police had contacted the petitioner, prompting the court to agree to list the matter for hearing.
In a separate case, on May 2, the Supreme Court directed authorities not to deport six family members to Pakistan—accused of overstaying their visas—until their citizenship claim was verified.
(inputs from PTI)
