The Sindh High Court (SHC) took decisive action against the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) controversial decision, overturning the imposed travel ban on noted social activist Jibran Nasir and his spouse, Mansha Pasha.
In a surprising turn of events last month, Jibran Nasir was barred by the FIA from embarking on a trip to Dubai. This sudden restriction prompted the activist to shed light on the issue, drawing significant attention to the FIA’s abrupt and unexplained action.
Diving into the Petition
Responding to the unwarranted travel restriction, Jibran Nasir filed a formal petition in the SHC. He directed his plea against several parties, including the federal and Sindh governments, the directorate general of Immigration and Passports, the secretary of the aviation ministry, and the director general of FIA.
The crux of the petition centred on the Constitution’s upholding fundamental rights. It emphasized that “any violation of the fundamental rights of the petitioner without any due course of law is illegal, unlawful, and unconstitutional.”
Moreover, the petition strongly argued for an individual’s intrinsic right to international travel. Drawing attention to Articles 4, 9, 14, 15, 18, and 25 of the Constitution, it delineated rights related to personal liberty, due process, dignity, freedom of movement, and profession. The plea underscored that any imposed limitation on one’s ability to exit or enter the country essentially amounts to a physical restraint, which flagrantly violates these fundamental rights.
