Web Desk: The Ministry of Interior has reinstated the CNICs and passports of nearly two dozen British Pakistanis whose Pakistani identity documents were previously revoked due to allegations of attacking former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa.

According to sources familiar with the matter, the Pakistani government has restored the identity status of these individuals, who are affiliated with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and reside in the UK. The cancellation and termination proceedings against their identity papers have been withdrawn.

In November last year, the Interior Ministry had directed the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to identify the alleged “attackers” using footage of the incident and to take legal action against them. As a result, around 23 Pakistani-origin protesters were identified, added to the Passport Control List (PCL), and had their CNICs revoked for allegedly assaulting former Chief Justice Isa. A formal request was also sent to the British government for their extradition.

PTI leaders Maleeka Bokhari, Abdullah M Kahloon, and academic Rahman Anwar were listed on the PCL. While they participated in the protest against the former Chief Justice, they were not present when Isa’s car was stopped later that evening.

The following individuals had their names placed on the control list and passports suspended, but their status has now been reinstated: Sadia Faheem, Faheem Gulzar, Maheen Faisal, Sidra Tariq, Haba Abdul Majeed, Waqas Chauhan, Mohsin Haider, Zameer Akram, Sardar Taimur, Muhammad Parvez Ali, Rukhsana Kausar, Sheikh Muhammad Jameel, Mahran Habib, Zuheer Ahmed, Rahman Anwar, Muhammad Sajid Khan, Khadija Kashif, Mohammad Naveed Afzal, Shahzad Qureshi, Sulaiman Ali Shah, and Bilal Anwar. Notably, Maheen Faisal had relocated to Dubai over two years ago and had no involvement in any protests, yet her name was also included in the list.

Interior Minister Naqvi had previously stated that further action, including the cancellation of CNICs and passports, would be pursued after the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) in Pakistan.

Initially, the government planned to revoke the citizenship of the identified “attackers,” with cases being forwarded to the cabinet. However, last week, authorities decided to drop all charges against them.

The UK chapter of PTI had organized a protest outside Middle Temple on November 8 against the decision to reinstate former Chief Justice Isa to the Bench following his retirement. Approximately 80 people participated, and the demonstration concluded peacefully.

However, around 10 activists remained at the scene, and later in the evening, they attempted to stop Isa’s car, banged on the vehicle, and tried to open the doors to confront him and his wife, Sarina. This incident took place nearly three hours after the main protest had ended.

As Isa’s car, which bore a Pakistan High Commission diplomatic number plate, emerged from the Temple’s exit at around 10:20 PM, PTI demonstrators approached it, attempted to block its path, and shouted slogans against him.

Former Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa made history as the first Pakistani judge to be elected as a bencher and invited to the Middle Temple, a prestigious legal institution in the United Kingdom (UK). Notably, Isa pursued his legal studies at the Middle Temple, following in the footsteps of his father, who was also an alumnus of the institution.