The Delhi High Court dismissed a Pakistani woman’s petition seeking a Long-Term Visa after India suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals. The move followed national security concerns after the Pahalgam terror attack.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court refused to hear a petition filed by a Pakistani woman named Sheena Naz. She had requested that her application for a Long-Term Visa (LTV) be considered and regularised until she could get Indian citizenship.
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Sheena Naz, a Pakistani citizen, is married to an Indian man. She had applied for a Long-Term Visa on April 23, 2025, before the Bureau of Immigration in India. But very soon after, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners-1 Division, issued an order dated April 25, 2025, under Section 3(1) of the Foreigners Act, 1946.
The government’s order clearly said:
“In continuation of the previous directive and in exercise of powers under Section 3(1) of the Foreigners Act 1946, the Government has decided to immediately suspend visa services for Pakistani nationals. All existing valid visas, except medical visas, Long-Term Visas, and Diplomatic and Official visas issued to Pakistani nationals stand revoked effective April 27, 2025. Medical visas granted to Pakistani nationals will remain valid only until April 29, 2025. No new visas will be issued. This order does not apply to Long-Term Visas (LTVs) or Diplomatic & Official Visas issued to Pakistani nationals.”
A special hearing took place on Saturday. Justice Sachin Datta of the Delhi High Court noted that the government’s order caused Sheena Naz’s visa to be revoked. It also stopped the processing of her Long-Term Visa application, which she had filed on April 23, 2025. The judge pointed out that Sheena Naz filed the petition mainly to “circumvent the implications of the April 25, 2025, directive.”
The Court observed that,
the government’s decision under Section 3(1) of the Foreigners Act, 1946, was taken mainly because of “critical national security concerns” and that this kind of decision “did not warrant judicial review.”
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The judge also mentioned that,
the Court “was beyond its jurisdiction to create exceptions to the government’s decision.”
Considering these facts, the Delhi High Court refused to hear the case further. The petition was dismissed as withdrawn.
The Union Government had suspended visa services for Pakistani nationals following the Pahalgam terror attack. After the attack, Pakistani nationals in India were also instructed to leave the country before April 27.
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