In a breather for a Pakistani woman who was to be deported today after her 30-year stay in India, a Delhi court has directed authorities concerned not to send her back in haste since it is her right to challenge her deportation before a higher court.
The court passed the order a week after it had directed the woman, Nuzhat Jahan, to be deported to Pakistan since her visa had expired in 1994 and her stay here since then was illegal.
Additional Sessions Judge Narinder Kumar directed the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office (FRRO) not to deport Nuzhat "in haste" after her husband Mohd Gulfam told the court that her wife intends to move the Delhi High Court.
ASJ Kumar had on May 2 sentenced Jahan to six days in jail and asked the Delhi government to deport her to Pakistan without any delay. It was informed that all arrangements have been made to deport her.
Considering Gulfam's plea that her wife wants to challenge the order before the high court, ASJ Kumar said, "Every seeker of justice, even if a citizen of any other country, is entitled to equality before law and equal protection of law."
"Similarly, wife of applicant (Gulfam) who entered India on a valid visa is also entitled to protection of law.
"Gulfam expressed intention of his wife in filing revision petition against the judgement of the court and according to law, she has got a period of 60 days for filing revision petition," the court noted.
