The Peshawar High Court has stopped the deportation of two Afghan journalists and directed the federal government to decide their cases within two months.

The journalists, Syed Ehsanullah Salehi and Syed Munir Ahmad, had approached the court seeking protection from possible arrest and deportation from Pakistan.

In its ruling, the court said the two applicants had entered Pakistan on valid visas and are currently residing in the country.

According to the petitioners, they have applied for resettlement in France and their applications are still under consideration. They also told the court that the French embassy had already completed verification in connection with their cases.

The court noted that the applicants fear arrest and deportation while waiting for a decision on their resettlement applications.

Their lawyer argued that the fear of being detained or deported has restricted the journalists’ ability to move freely in Pakistan.

The Peshawar High Court directed the federal government to determine the cases within 60 days. The ruling provides temporary relief to the two Afghan journalists while their applications are being processed.

The court further stated that if the federal government fails to make a decision within the given period, the Ministry of Interior should provide the applicants with temporary permission to remain in Pakistan.

The ruling comes as Afghan nationals with pending legal or resettlement cases continue to face uncertainty over their status in Pakistan.

The court’s decision means the two journalists cannot be deported while the authorities consider their cases under the timeline set by the judiciary.

The development could also draw attention to the legal challenges faced by Afghan journalists seeking relocation and protection in third countries.