LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has declared that authorities must promptly provide written explanations to individuals who are prevented from traveling abroad. This ruling was issued in a case heard by Justice Ali Zia Bajwa, following a petition filed by Chaudhry Shehryar Qandeel.
The court underscored that administrative powers, regardless of their extent, cannot justify the infringement of constitutional rights. It highlighted that passengers holding valid travel documents cannot be denied their right to travel without adherence to proper legal procedures.
During the proceedings, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials requested additional time to clarify the legal basis under which travelers are offloaded at the last moment before departure. Justice Bajwa instructed government law officers to present specific legal provisions that authorize such decisions.
The judge stressed that whenever the state seeks to restrict an individual’s personal liberty, it must have clear legal grounds for doing so. He further noted that barring citizens from leaving the country based solely on administrative discretion constitutes a violation of the constitutional right to freedom of movement.
During the hearing, the government law officer admitted there were no written reasons on record for the petitioner’s offloading but assured the court of their availability moving forward. The judgment emphasized that issuing written reasons immediately upon offloading is not merely procedural—it is a critical safeguard ensuring access to legal remedies.
The ruling concluded by affirming that any departure from due legal process amounts to an explicit breach of the constitutional right to freedom of movement.
