A legal lifeline has been extended to two Afghan families facing deportation from Pakistan, with the Peshawar High Court ordering a 30-day halt on any removal actions. The interim protection covers patients undergoing critical medical treatment, including a liver cancer patient and a woman recovering from a brain stroke. Main Developments Justice Salahud Din and Justice Qazi Jawad Ehsanullah disposed of two separate petitions on August 3, ruling that law enforcement agencies must not arrest or deport the two ailing Afghan nationals or their family members for one month. The bench directed the petitioners to promptly approach the relevant authorities for a medical visa or submit an application to the interior ministry seeking permission to stay until treatment concludes. Authorities have been instructed to review any such applications expeditiously, strictly according to law, and with due consideration for the patients' medical conditions and the documentation presented. The court's protective order remains effective for 30 days from the date of the ruling, giving the families time to pursue the designated legal remedies. Read also: KP's 78-year grievance: Why Afridi says state institutions overstepped Background The first case involves Ubaidullah, an Afghan national residing in Swat, whose father Haji Ghulam Rasool suffers from liver cancer. Counsel Neelam Abrar told the court that the patient initially received treatment at Saidu Group of Teaching Hospital before being referred to Kings Hospital, Saidu Sharif, as the disease progressed to an advanced stage. A second petition was filed jointly by Dawlat Khan, his wife Sakina, and their son Aftab. Their lawyer Naeem Khan explained that the family had been residing legally using Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, but these documents are no longer considered valid for continued residence. Sakina is undergoing treatment for a brain stroke and requires uninterrupted medication and regular neurological follow-up. Both petitions argued that federal authorities had initiated coercive deportation measures that would forcibly interrupt life-saving treatment. The assistant attorney general, Said Jamil Shah, acknowledged the petitioners' PoR cards had been cancelled, leaving them without lawful authority to remain, but conceded they could apply for medical visas or interior ministry permission. Why It Matters The ruling underscores the tension between immigration enforcement and humanitarian obligations, particularly when deportation could prove fatal. Medical reports in both cases explicitly warned that any interruption in treatment would lead to irreversible deterioration and risk of death. The court deliberately declined to adjudicate the merits of the stay requests in its constitutional jurisdiction, instead directing petitioners to the proper administrative channels. This procedural approach preserves the authority of immigration officials while ensuring that urgent medical circumstances are not ignored during the deportation process. What's Next The affected families now face a race against the 30-day clock to secure formal permission to remain in Pakistan. They must either obtain medical visas or receive approval from the interior ministry, with the court requiring a decision on its own merits based on the evidence presented. Should the authorities fail to act within the protective window, the patients' legal teams would likely return to court seeking further relief. The coming weeks will reveal whether the administrative route proves workable for those whose medical treatment hangs in the balance.