Karnataka High Court
Credit: DH File Photo
Bengaluru: The High Court of Karnataka on Thursday dismissed the petition filed by three Pakistani children seeking extension of their visa period.
The petitioner children — Bibi Yamina (8 years), Master Muhammad Mudassir (4 years) and Master Muhammed Yousuf (3 years) — were represented by their Indian mother, Ramsha Jahan.
Vacation judge Justice M G Uma observed that the union government had taken a conscious decision to suspend/cancel visas issued to Pakistani nationals keeping in mind the interest of national security, following a meeting of Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and the court would not like to interfere with the said decision. The court said the decision of the union government was following the deadly terrorist attack at Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025.
Appearing for the central government, H Shanthi Bhushan, Deputy Solicitor General of India, placed the various orders issued by the union government in the aftermath of Pahalgam terrorist attack.
The mother, along with the children, had entered India on January 4, 2025, on a valid visa, which was later extended from February 17, 2025, till June 18, 2025.
Following the union government’s directive to all Pakistanis to leave India by April 30, 2025, after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, the petitioners claimed to have reached the Attari border on April 28, 2025. However, they could not cross the border as there was none to receive them as Pakistan had closed its borders to its own citizens. They returned to Mysuru and submitted a representation seeking extension of their visa.
On April 29, 2025, they submitted a representation to the Mysuru city police commissioner to extend their visa period on humanitarian grounds.
When their representation was not considered and they were asked to immediately leave on the threat of coercive measures, they moved the high court.