In a significant development, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has ordered the Union Home secretary to bring back Rakshanda Rashid, a 63-year-old woman who was deported to Pakistan on April 30 amid the Centre’s post-Pahalgam terror attack crackdown on Pakistani nationals.
Humanitarian Grounds Prevail: High Court Intervenes
Justice Rahul Bharti, in his June 6 order, described human rights as “the most sacrosanct component of a human life” and stressed the need for urgent intervention. The court directed the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to facilitate the return of the petitioner within ten days.
Rakshanda had been residing in Jammu for 38 years with her Indian husband and two children. Being on a Long-Term Visa (LTV) and having applied for Indian citizenship in 1996, her application remains pending.
The High Court directed the compliance within ten days from the date of the order (June 6) and posted the matter to July 1 for compliance report.
Deported Despite Long-Term Visa and Family in India
Rakshanda’s deportation was carried out as part of the Home Ministry’s drive to remove Pakistani nationals post the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Her family claims she was taken to the Attari border by J&K police without any formal deportation order despite her valid LTV status.
Her daughter, Falak Sheikh, stated that Rakshanda has been living alone in a hotel in Lahore for over two months without any relatives or support system. “She took only ₹50,000 with her due to restrictions and is unable to even purchase a SIM card. Her international roaming will stop soon, and we’re concerned for her safety,” said Sheikh.
Married to a retired Indian government officer, Rakshanda suffers from multiple health ailments and lacks access to adequate care in Pakistan, according to her family.
Cancellation of 14 Visa Categories for Pakistani Nationals
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the Government of India cancelled 14 categories of visas issued to Pakistani nationals. Union Home Minister Amit Shah personally contacted Chief Ministers of all states and directed them to ensure that no Pakistani citizen stays beyond the April 29 deadline.
As part of the nationwide exercise, Pakistani nationals were removed and deported, with many sent back through the Attari-Wagah border. This decisive step was taken to eliminate any potential security risks stemming from overstaying foreigners.
The crackdown is aligned with the Centre’s commitment to national security and counter-terror efforts, especially in light of the continued threat from Pakistan-based terror outfits.
Need for Stronger Monitoring
There are estimated to be thousands of Pakistani nationals living in India on Long-Term Visas (LTVs), many of whom have stayed for decades without formal citizenship status. The lack of a robust mechanism to monitor, renew, and evaluate such stays poses national security risks.
While the Centre’s visa revocation move was timely and essential in the wake of the Pahalgam attack, experts note that such judicial verdicts could inadvertently create confusion around the government’s broader security directive and affect uniform enforcement.
