Case Update Status

Chief Justice Islamabad High Court Dogar refused to entertain Asad Toor’s petition against travel ban.

Summary of Case

On August 9, Prominent Journalist Asad Ali Toor was prevented from traveling to the United States by immigration authorities at Islamabad International Airport. The actual reason remained unclear. As reported by Journalism Pakistan, Asad Toor, a journalist known for his outspoken criticism of the military and government, was prevented from traveling to the United States by immigration authorities at Islamabad International Airport. The purpose of his trip was to attend the U.S. State Department's International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP). Analysts believe this action harms Pakistan's global image regarding democratic health. Toor has faced past intimidation, including a 2021 attack, and was awarded the Dutch Human Rights Tulip Award in December 2024 for his fearless human rights reporting. Asad Ali Toor announced on his X account that he was barred from traveling from Islamabad International Airport to Washington, D.C. to attend a 12-day International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) proposed by the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and organized by the U.S. State Department. Immigration authorities prevented him from traveling, stating his name was on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). Toor repeatedly asked officials for the reason behind his name being added to the PNIL but received no answer. He stated that in Pakistan, journalism and speaking truth to power are being treated as offenses. Toor affirmed he had committed this "crime" and would continue to do so. He framed the incident as another example of restrictions on journalists under Pakistan's current "hybrid" regime, noting that under this regime, Pakistan's ranking in the world press freedom index fell 6 points from 152 to 158th position. According to Associated Press of Pakistan Islamabad High Court upheld objections raised by the court's registrar office regarding a petition filed by journalist Asad Ali Toor. Chief Justice Sardar Muhammad Sarfaraz Dogar instructed Toor to approach the appropriate authorities instead. The decision came during a hearing where lawyers Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chatha represented Toor. Imaan Mazari argued the urgency of the case, stating that missing the deadline for travel permission by the next day would render the petition moot. Mazari cited precedents like the Ayyan Ali and Inam Akbar cases. Chief Justice Dogar responded that Toor should have initially contacted the Immigration Department. Based on the registrar office's objection that Toor hadn't approached immigration authorities prior to filing the petition, the court upheld this objection and adjourned the hearing. An interview covers a detailed and critical discussion about Toor’s case with senior Journalist Matiullah Jan detailed that Asad Toor was scheduled to participate in a prestigious 12-day international leadership training program organized by the U.S. State Department’s International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), aimed at enhancing journalistic skills through exposure to modern tools and technologies. Despite having completed all formalities and holding a boarding pass, Toor was stopped at Islamabad airport, with immigration authorities refusing him permission to travel without providing any clear explanation for his inclusion on the PNIL. Asad Toor and his advocate, Imaan Mazari, challenged this decision in the Islamabad High Court. However, Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar maintained the stance that attending conferences or training abroad is not a fundamental right guaranteed under the constitution, thereby rejecting the petition. The court upheld the registrar’s objection that Toor should have first filed a complaint with immigration authorities, ignoring the fact that Toor had already tried multiple times to seek clarification from relevant government departments, including the Interior Ministry and FIA, but received no response. The discussion highlights the legal and constitutional issues surrounding the freedom of movement in Pakistan, the misuse or misapplication of the PNIL—originally intended to bar fugitives involved in heinous crimes—and the judiciary’s apparent reluctance to challenge administrative overreach. The interview also explores the broader context of Pakistani journalists and officials regularly participating in U.S. government-sponsored training programs and the irony of such exposure being denied to Toor without due cause. The lawyer Imaan Mazari emphasizes the need for judicial intervention based on precedent and fundamental rights, while expressing disappointment at the court's dismissive attitude toward the case. The video closes with reflections on judicial conduct, political implications, and the shrinking space for fundamental rights in Pakistan’s legal landscape. During interview Toor shared that he was prevented from traveling to the United States from Islamabad International Airport to attend a 12-day International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP) organized by the U.S. State Department. Toor was to participate in a training program related to journalism involving the latest tools and technology alongside journalists from Pakistan and other countries. He was stopped by immigration authorities citing his name was on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). Toor repeatedly asked officials at the airport for the reason behind his name being on the PNIL but received no answer. Lawyer Mazari explained that she argued in the Islamabad High Court that when Toor was offloaded from the flight, he didn't need to approach immigration authorities for redress as no reason was given for being on the PNIL. Mazari cited judgments like the Ayyan Ali case and Inam Akbar case to support the argument for judicial review of Toor's placement on the PNIL. Despite Mazari's arguments, Chief Justice Sarfaraz Dogar upheld the registrar's objection to the petition's maintainability. The Chief Justice remarked that attending a conference in America is not a fundamental right, despite arguments that the case involved freedom of movement and expression rights guaranteed in Pakistan's constitution, Mazari detailed. Imaan Mazari posted on X regarding the outcome of Asad Ali Toor's travel ban case in the Islamabad High Court. According to Mazari, Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court ("CJ IHC") sustained the office objection regarding the petition's maintainability, as expected. Mazari noted that the issue of maintainability should be decided on the judicial side, but the "CJ IHC" upheld the objection. When Mazari attempted to assist the court by referencing case law and provisions of the Constitution to argue why the objection should be overruled, the "CJ IHC" made personal remarks. As Mazari stated, the "CJ IHC" asked, "why are you so stubborn?" Mazari emphasized to the court that without official notification of placement on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) or a reasoned order to challenge, the right to representation, review, or appeal isn't an effective remedy. Despite trying to cite case law on this point, the "CJ IHC" didn't want to hear about the law or Constitution. When informed that if Asad Toor didn't travel by the next day, he would miss the International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), the "CJ IHC" responded that attending the program wasn't a "fundamental right." Mazari insisted, based on settled case law, that the right to freedom of movement can't be arbitrarily restricted in this manner. Mazari noted that the "CJ IHC" effectively overturned settled jurisprudence on the subject by requiring recourse to immigration authorities despite clear urgency and violation of due process rights. This contradicted earlier judgments by the Islamabad High Court on the matter. Toor also shared his grievances regarding the conduct of Chief Justice of the Islamabad High Court (CJ IHC) Sarfaraz Dogar in his travel ban case. Toor maintained that CJ IHC Sarfaraz Dogar was picked by the establishment's "stooge" government from the 15th position in the seniority list of the Lahore High Court and installed in the Islamabad High Court. Toor's purpose, according to his post, was to capture the Islamabad High Court, erode justice, and undermine the fundamental rights of citizens. Toor stated that Chief Justice Dogar "evolved a new jurisprudence" in the case, asserting that freedom of movement is not a "right" (referring to fundamental rights guaranteed in the constitution to every citizen of Pakistan without discrimination). Toor thanked Iman Mazari (@ImaanZHazir) and Hadi Ali (@AdvHadiali) for their support. Toor expressed that the conduct of Justice Dogar in the court endorsed Toor's previous opinions about Dogar's appointment and its implications. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Pakistani authorities to drop all travel restrictions against Toor. It was reported on its official site that Toor was prevented from traveling to the United States at the Islamabad airport on August 8 while headed to a 12-day International Visitor Leadership Program arranged by the U.S. State Department. Immigration authorities stopped him from boarding because his name was on a Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) list imposing temporary travel restrictions on Pakistani citizens. CPJ sought comment from Pakistan's Information Minister Attaullah Tarar via text message but received no response.

Category of Incident

ECL/No Fly List

ICCS Status

ICCS Divisions: N/A

ICCS Group: N/A

ICCS Class: N/A

ICCS Crime: N/A

Reported By

Journalism Pakistan

Date of incident

9

Month

August

Year

2025

Name of affected person

Asad Ali Toor

Other affected persons

N/A

Name of affected organization

Social Media

Other affected organizations

N/A

Action by

The Interior Ministry of Pakistan

City

Islamabad

Province

Capital

Designation

Freelancer

Professional category

Journalist

Age of victim

41

Marital Status

Compensation Details

Amount of compensation announced by government: N/A

Date of compensation announcement by government: N/A

Date of compensation paid by government: N/A

Amount of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date of compensation announced by others: N/A

Date compensation paid by others: N/A

FIR Details

Was FIR registered ?: No

Court Details

Was case investigated ?: No

Court where case was presented: In the Court of Chief Justice Islamabad High Court, Sarfraz Dogar

Name of prosecuting lawyer: N/A

Date of first court hearing:

Date of last court hearing:

Status of court case: The court refused to entertain Asad Toor’s petition against travel ban.

Journalist Union Status

PFUJ

Not condemned

APNS

Not condemned

CPNE

Not condemned

PBA

Not condemned

Media Source Status

Media reports:

Condemn Status

Colleague of victim

N/A

Employer organization

N/A

Press Club Status

Press club 1: N/A

Press club 2: N/A

Press club 3: N/A