Pakistan, July 2 -- The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday restrained authorities from taking adverse action against three Afghan women married to Pakistani citizens while hearing a petition challenging the exclusion of time spent in Pakistan under Proof of Registration (PoR) cards from the calculation of lawful residence for citizenship purposes.

Justice Muhammad Asif issued notices to the federal government and the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports, directing them to submit replies, and sought assistance from the attorney general at the next hearing.

Representing the petitioners, Barrister Umar Ijaz Gilani told the court that the three Afghan women had been married to Pakistani citizens for more than a decade and t...