The Pakistani government has reinstated the CNICs and passports of nearly two dozen British Pakistanis whose identity documents were previously revoked over allegations of attacking former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
According to sources, the individuals, associated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and residing in the UK, have had their legal status restored, and the cancellation process of their identity papers has been discontinued.
In November last year, the Ministry of Interior had directed the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to identify the individuals involved in the protest through video footage and take legal action against them. As a result, around 23 Pakistani-origin protesters were added to the Passport Control List (PCL), and their CNICs were suspended. A formal request for their extradition was also sent to the British government.
Among those placed on the PCL were PTI leaders Maleeka Bokhari, Abdullah M Kahloon, and academic Rahman Anwar, who participated in the protest but were not directly involved in stopping Isa’s car. Others on the list included Sadia Faheem, Faheem Gulzar, Maheen Faisal, Sidra Tariq, Haba Abdul Majeed, Waqas Chauhan, Mohsin Haider, Zameer Akram, Sardar Taimur, Muhammad Parvez Ali, Rukhsana Kausar, Sheikh Muhammad Jameel, Mahran Habib, Zuheer Ahmed, Muhammad Sajid Khan, Khadija Kashif, Mohammad Naveed Afzal, Shahzad Qureshi, Sulaiman Ali Shah, and Bilal Anwar. Notably, Maheen Faisal had moved to Dubai two years ago and had not participated in any protests, yet her name was added to the list.
The government had initially planned to register a First Information Report (FIR) and revoke the citizenship of those involved. However, last week, it was decided to drop all actions against them.
The PTI UK chapter organized the protest on November 8 outside the Middle Temple against the decision to recall Isa to the Bench post-retirement. While approximately 80 people participated in the peaceful demonstration, around 10 activists remained behind. They later attempted to stop Isa’s car, banged on the vehicle, and tried to open its doors as he and his wife Sarina were leaving.
The incident occurred three hours after the main protest had ended. As Isa’s car, bearing a Pakistan High Commission diplomatic number plate, exited the Temple at around 10:20 pm, PTI demonstrators surrounded the vehicle and chanted slogans against him.
Isa, who studied law at the Middle Temple, made history as the first Pakistani judge elected as a bencher at the prestigious UK legal institution. His father was also a graduate of the same institute.
