Archive · 19 Dec 2025
Court Orders Review of Pakistani Woman's Citizenship Plea
A woman from Pakistan named Nighat Yasmeen has been living in India with her Indian husband and their two Indian children.
She wanted to become an Indian citizen, but her requests were not processed.
The court said the government should look at her new request carefully and decide before her current visa expires.
The court also said that even though there are new rules for people from Pakistan, Yasmeen is safe and won't be sent away while her request is being considered.
The court wants the government to make a decision quickly and fairly.
The Karnataka High Court directed authorities to consider Nighat Yasmeen's fresh citizenship application before her long-term visa expires.
Yasmeen, a Pakistani national, is married to an Indian citizen and has two Indian citizen children.
Her earlier citizenship requests were not processed, and recent visa policy changes affected the processing of applications from Pakistani nationals.
The court acknowledged Yasmeen's compliance with the e-FRRO portal requirement and directed authorities to process her consolidated application within a fixed timeframe.
The court clarified that holders of valid long-term visas are protected from deportation or coercive actions during processing.
- Who
- Nighat Yasmeen, a Pakistani national married to an Indian citizen, Mohammed Younus, and mother of two Indian citizen children
- What
- The Karnataka High Court has directed authorities to consider her fresh citizenship application before her long-term visa expires
- When
- The court order was issued on December 18
- Where
- Karnataka High Court, India
- Why
- Yasmeen's earlier citizenship requests were not processed, and recent visa policy changes affected the processing of applications from Pakistani nationals
- Petitioner
- Nighat Yasmeen
- Spouse
- Mohammed Younus (Indian citizen)
- Children
- Two (Indian citizens)
- Current Status
- Long-term visa holder
- Court
- Karnataka High Court
- Judge
- Justice Suraj Govindaraj
- Date of Order
- December 18
- Authorities Involved
- Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO)