Mon Jun 23 19:18:44 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has ordered the Union Home Secretary to repatriate a 63-year-old Indian housewife, Rakshanda Rashid, who was deported to Pakistan following a crackdown on Pakistani nationals after the Pahalgam terror attack. Rashid had been living in Jammu with her husband and children for 38 years on a long-term visa (LTV) and had applied for Indian citizenship in 1996. Her daughter expressed concern for her mother’s safety and financial situation, as she has no relatives in Pakistan and limited funds. The court noted the exceptional circumstances, including Rashid’s LTV status and her lack of support in Pakistan, and ordered her return within 10 days. The petitioner’s counsel stated that the Jammu and Kashmir authorities had not yet acted upon the order, and the woman had not yet returned to India.

**News Article:**

**Indian Court Orders Repatriation of Deported Housewife from Pakistan**

**NEW DELHI, June 24, 2025** – The Jammu and Kashmir High Court has intervened in the case of Rakshanda Rashid, a 63-year-old housewife deported to Pakistan following a crackdown on Pakistani nationals after the recent Pahalgam terror attack. In an order issued on June 6, Judge Rahul Bharti directed the Union Home Secretary to facilitate Rashid’s return to India within 10 days, citing humanitarian concerns and the “exceptional nature” of the case.

Rashid, who has resided in Jammu with her husband and two children for 38 years, was deported despite holding a long-term visa (LTV) and having applied for Indian citizenship in 1996. Her daughter, Falak Sheikh, expressed alarm over her mother’s well-being, stating that Rashid is currently alone in Lahore with limited financial resources and no immediate family.

“She was here on a long-term visa… yet she was deported to Pakistan,” said Sheikh. “All her sisters are settled in other countries; she has no immediate relatives there.”

The court emphasized that Rashid’s LTV status may not have warranted her deportation. It further noted that Rashid’s husband stated that she requires care and custody due to multiple ailments.

Petitioner’s counsel Ankur Sharma stated that as of today, Jammu and Kashmir authorities had not yet acted upon the court’s order. The case highlights concerns about the implementation of post-Pahalgam security measures and the impact on long-term residents.

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