Shazia Arif Butt (Petitioner) VS Federation of Pakistan & others (Respondent)

ORDER SHEET

IN THE HIGH COURT OF SINDH, KARACHI.

C.P No. D-561 of 2026 (Shazia Arif Butt v Federation of Pakistan & others) Dated Order with signature of Judge.

Before:

Mr. Justice Adnan-ul-Karim Memon Mr. Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi

Date of hearing and order:- 26.02.2026.

Sardar Muhshtaq Ahmed, Advocate for the Petitioner. Ms. Wajeeha Mehdi, DAG.

ORDER

Adnan-ul-Karim Memon, J Petitioner Shazia Arif Butt has filed this Constitutional Petition under Article 199 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, seeking the following relief: - “a) May be pleased to direct the Respondents to delete name of the petitioner/unblock/d-block the passport and remove the name of petitioner from the ECL/BL/PCL/PNIL etc. and may be pleased to direct the all respondents give immediate relief to the petitioner allow to go to abroad.”

2.The case of the petitioner is that she is a citizen of Pakistan, and is gainfully employed and also operates her own business in Dubai, UAE. However, on 22nd September 2025, while attempting to travel from Karachi Airport to Dubai, UAE, on Fly Dubai Flight No. FZ322, who was holding a valid visa and ticket, was offloaded by Respondent No.5. She submitted that despite possessing all necessary travel documents, she was informed orally by the respondents that her passport was blacklisted in the Inter-Boarder Management System (IBMS), and consequently, she was prevented from boarding the flight. She added that she was also incorrectly accused of having applied for a second passport, which she denies. She averred that following the exit stamp by FIA immigration, Respondent No.5 refused her further travel, stating that her name appeared on the Exit Control List (ECL), Passport Control List (PCL), and blacklists (BL), without providing any justifiable reason. She submitted that this arbitrary action has caused her severe hardship, depriving her of her fundamental right to travel and causing irreparable losses to her

employment and business. She emphasized that he family members residing abroad in Dubai are also suffering due to this restriction. It is added that she and her husband are currently residing in a rented apartment and are struggling to meet household expenses, rent, and utility bills. She emphasized that the financial and emotional stress resulting from the inability to join her job and manage her business has placed the family in an extremely precarious situation.

3.The Petitioner’s counsel submitted that petitioner was offloaded from Fly Dubai Flight No.FZ322 on 22.09.2025 from Karachi to Dubai, despite holding a valid visa and passport, as Respondent No.5 orally claimed her passport was blacklisted in the IBMS system. This incident has caused hardship for the Petitioner and her family, affecting her employment and business. She requested that her passport be unblocked, her name removed from any watchlists, and that she be allowed to travel freely.

4.The learned DAG stated that while the Petitioner was offloaded due to her passport not being active in the system, her name was not on the ECL/BL/PCL/PNIL, and agreed that her passport needs be activated if there are no legal impediments. The request of learned AAG seems to be reasonable and acceded to.

5.In view of the facts presented, the legal submissions of the parties, and the material on record, we have noticed that petitioner holds a valid passport and visa, and was offloaded from Fly Dubai Flight No. FZ322 on 22.09.2025 despite fulfilling all travel requirements. Prima facie, the action of Respondent No.5 in preventing her from boarding, based on purported restrictions in the Inter-Boarder Management System (IBMS), was/is arbitrary, lacked lawful justification, as no material has been placed on record to say contrary thus violated her fundamental right to freedom of movement under Article 15 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973, and her right to travel abroad for employment and personal reasons.

6.The learned DAG has clarified that the Petitioner’s name does not appear on the Exit Control List (ECL), Blacklist (BL), Passport Control List (PCL), or PNIL, and any travel restriction on her account is therefore not legally tenable.

7.This Court recognizes that arbitrary denial of travel and related restrictions constitute actionable infringement of rights. This Court also notes the severe financial and emotional hardship suffered by the Petitioner and her family, during intervening period, which underscores the need for immediate remedial action, therefore Director General FIA should take stock of the things at this end to control the officers who are indulged in teasing the citizens unnecessarily.

8.In view of the above facts and circumstances of the case, we intend to dispose of the petition with direction to the competent authorities of the respondents, including Respondents No. 2, 4, and 5, who are hereby directed to activate the Petitioner’s passport in all relevant systems and to remove her name from all watchlists, blacklists, and travel restrictions, unless a specific legal bar exists with cogent material and not without such material. Prima facie, the Petitioner is entitled to freedom of travel and needs to be allowed to proceed abroad without any administrative obstruction/restriction.

9.In such circumstances, this petition, along with pending application(s) is disposed of in the above terms.

Copies of this order shall be communicated to all relevant authorities, including the Director Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and Directorate of Immigration, and relevant airline authorities, for strict compliance.

JUDGE

JUDGE

Shafi