The Pakistani government has reversed its decision to stop issuing and renewing passports for citizens seeking asylum abroad.
This change, announced by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on July 22, followed an earlier directive from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, issued on June 5, which instructed diplomatic missions to stop providing passports to asylum seekers.
Bishop Azad Marshall, president of the Church of Pakistan and head of the National Council of Churches in Pakistan, criticized the initial policy, noting it would have left many people stateless.
“Pakistanis, regardless of their faith affiliations, flee to other countries when they feel insecure or are persecuted. The government’s move would have made such people homeless and stateless,” the prelate said.
The decision to resume issuing passports comes amid ongoing criticism of Pakistan’s human rights record, particularly concerning religious freedom and the protection of minorities.
Ejaz Alam Augustine, a Christian lawmaker in the Punjab Provincial Assembly, expressed relief over the reversal, in a report by the Christian Daily International–Morning Star News.
He said the government must now focus on ensuring the protection and security of the minority communities by addressing the abuse of the blasphemy laws.
Samson Salamat, chairman of the Rawadari Tehreek (Movement for Equality), said the ban violated the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which guarantees the right to seek asylum.
“We are glad that the international community and human rights organizations raised this issue, compelling the Pakistani government to review this illogical decision,” he said.
A Pakistani Christian asylum seeker in the United States, who requested anonymity, described the fear and uncertainty caused by the June directive, especially for those with family members still in hiding in Pakistan.
Pakistan ranks seventh on Open Doors’ 2024 World Watch List of the most difficult places to be a Christian.
The Pakistani passport is ranked the fourth worst globally, with visa-free access to only 34 out of 227 destinations, according to the latest Henley Passport Index.
The resettlement process for many persecuted Christian families stranded in countries like Thailand, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka remains slow, with many returning to Pakistan after failing to secure refugee status.
