Protect Freedom of Movement | Article15.travel

Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 under Article 15 grants following right to every citizen

Freedom of Movement:

15. Every citizen shall have the right to remain in, and, subject to any reasonable restriction imposed by law in the public interest, enter and move freely throughout Pakistan and to reside and settle in any part thereof.

Legal interpretation of the above article by the high courts of Pakistan is as follows:

In the case # 2022 PLD 119 LHC, the Honorable court have held that Article 15 includes right to travel abroad.
In the case # PLD 1987 SC 504, the Honorable court have held that Right to international travel as part of liberty.

Can the authorities prevent you from leaving Pakistan?

Have you recently been off-loaded or prevented from leaving Pakistan or been arrested or detained by the airport authorities? If you were not presented with a written reason or a judicial warrant, the action may have been unlawful and you may be entitled to hold those responsible accountable.

According to the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973 and existing legal principles, there is no legal way for authorities to stop someone from leaving the country unless the following requirements are fulfilled:

Valid passport.
Valid work or visit visa for the destination country.
Return ticket (in case of a visit visa).
Hotel bookings for the visit visa.
Sufficient funds to support the stay abroad for the declared period.

Pakistani citizens have experienced mass off-loading from airports across Pakistan, including illegal arrests and detentions of overseas Pakistanis. The government may only arrest or detain someone with a judicial warrant issued by a competent court; otherwise, the arrest or detention is illegal or unwarranted.

Pakistani citizen have experienced a mass offloading from the airport across Pakistan including illegal arrests and detentions of overseas Pakistanis, but the question remains Can the Govt Prevent someone from leaving the country. Or even arrest or detained them upon arrival?

Well the answer to the above question is somewhat complicated but we will try to surmise it as much as possible. According to the Constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan 1973, exiting legal frame work, set principles there is no legal way for authorities to stop someone from leaving the country, unless they don’t have the following requirement fulfilled:

Valid Passport,
Work or Visit Visa of the destination country,
Return ticket (incase of visit visa),
Hotel Bookings (for visit Visa), and
Sufficient funds to support one’s stay abroad for the period of stay in the visiting country (the minimum amount has to be decided by the country of stay).

Now the second part of the above question about arrests or detention, the answer is yes but to arrest someone the authorities have to have a Judicial warrant of arrest for the person in order to arrest them, otherwise the arrest or detention will be illegal or unwarranted.

Have you recently been off loaded or prevented from leaving Pakistan or been arrested or detained by the Airport Authorities? If yes were you presented with a written reason, or any judicial warrant if the answer is NO, You may have been illegally off loaded or detained or arrested and you maybe lawfully entitled to hold those responsible accountable.

Mission & Values

We advocate due process, accountability, and lawful travel for every citizen.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to protect and promote the constitutional right of every Pakistani citizen—especially Overseas Pakistanis—to ensure their freedom of movement, due process, and dignity. We work to ensure that no citizen is deprived of the right to travel, liberty, or lawful documentation through arbitrary administrative actions, undocumented suspicions, secret lists, or non-transparent procedures.

We seek to strengthen the rule of law by advocating for accountability, transparency, and strict adherence to the Constitution of Pakistan, statutory law, and established judicial principles so that power is exercised lawfully, fairly, and responsibly.

Who We Are

Who we are not:

We are not anti-state.
We are not anti-institutions.
We are not aligned with any political or religious-political party or ideology.
We are pro-Constitution, pro-law, pro-citizens’ rights, and pro-overseas Pakistanis.

Our aim is:

To help all citizens, especially Overseas Pakistanis, in legal matters concerning travel documents.
To pursue positive reforms, not confrontation.
To follow meaningful pursuits of justice—not rhetoric.

We are a non-profit organization led by citizens and Overseas Pakistanis to address unlawful travel restrictions, passport interference, and administrative overreach in Pakistan.

LEGAL-SAFE MANIFESTO

Full manifesto coming soon. We are consolidating legal research, citizen testimonies, and strategic actions into a single reference so every traveler knows their rights before approaching an airport counter.

What We Stand For

We stand for constitutional supremacy over executive discretion, due process over secrecy, evidence over suspicion, and accountability over impunity.

We believe that national security and public interest can only be served when state power is exercised within the boundaries of law—not outside of it.

Why This Matters

Freedom of movement affects employment and livelihood, family unity, education, medical care, dignity, and reputation. When rights are restricted without law, every citizen becomes vulnerable.

How We Work

Legal awareness and rights education.
Documenting citizen experiences responsibly.
Engaging media and civil society.
Advocating policy reform through lawful channels.
Supporting affected individuals with guidance and referrals.

Call to Action

If you or someone you know has faced unjust travel restrictions:

Visit our Get Help page.
Learn your constitutional rights.
Join the movement for lawful reform and legal aid.

How do we operate?

This non-profit legal aid movement is led by ordinary Overseas Pakistanis and citizens. We aim to set up a strong legal team in all major cities consisting of top lawyers of the country. Citizens can help through financial support, guidance, professional expertise, or advisory roles.

Our Demands to the State

From the Presidency to the FIA, we call for swift relief and long-term reforms.

Stop unlawful off-loading now.
Return confiscated passports.
Clean ECL / PCL / PNIL lists.
Fast-track cleared citizens.

Pre-travel clearance channel.
Dedicated e-gates & self check-in.
Cash compensation for losses.
Transparent anti-trafficking policy.

About Article15

Article15 is a non-political legal reforms movement led by overseas Pakistanis and citizens.

Non-political, pro-Constitution citizens movement.
Focus on unlawful travel bans, passport interference, and due process.
Volunteer-driven with legal experts inside and outside Pakistan.

Get Help

Have you been affected by a travel or passport restriction since 2023? You are not alone—and you are not powerless. Many citizens face restrictions without clear explanations or lawful procedures. If you were off-loaded or stopped for unclear reasons, share your story so others can learn and so we can pursue justice through a legal framework.

Who this page is for

Passport confiscation or impounding without providing written reasons.
Placement on a control list or travel restriction list without prior knowledge or a chance of hearing.
Denied boarding or off-loaded without written reasons.
Repeated referrals to internal review committees or unexplained delays despite no evidence.

All submitted incidents are subject to verification through independent sources and lawful means. Only proven cases will be forwarded to authorities or the relevant court for reconsideration, quick resolution, or publication on this platform.

Open Get Help form

Who we can’t help

We cannot help those who are declared convicted criminals in a court of law in Pakistan or elsewhere, where the conviction was proven in open court and the sentence was handed out by a competent authority.

Volunteer & stay informed

Citizens and Overseas Pakistanis can:

Document cases and assist victims responsibly.
Verify data, join media outreach, and advocate policy reform.
Offer legal expertise after verification.

Choose to volunteer or receive updates when you create an account.

Get Involved

This is a special request to all Overseas Pakistanis and citizens who believe in the rule of law: if our mission statement aligns with your conscience and you want to help others, please join us as volunteers now.

Being a volunteer does not give authority over anyone; it simply means joining a collective effort of citizens who are using their own conscience to stand for the rule of law and for the good of others. You may be asked to contribute physical effort or financial help. We never publish or advertise a volunteer’s personal data without written permission, so you are free to use an alias on our platform. Legal practitioners who wish to work with us will be asked for full information for verification.

Information we collect

Real name or alias.
City and profession.
Your preference: “Would you like to get involved?” or “Just stay informed”.

How we respond

If you opt to get involved, we may assign specific volunteering tasks. If you wish to stay informed, we will add you to our email list for regular updates.

Create volunteer account

Add Claim for Financial Loss

We believe no one should be subjected to illegal harm and a financial harm is no less than emotional harm. If you have faced financial damage, time loss, loss of opportunity, or any other economic harm, you may be entitled to claim damages. We are preparing a lawsuit against the authorities, and while it may take longer than expected, we will make sure your voices are heard.

Why submit now?

If you believe you were illegally stopped from traveling and it caused financial harm in any shape or form, you can join us for free. Once we file the lawsuit we will need all relevant information from you to place before the court. When the case is won, you will receive your share of the damages in full except actual office expenses (if any).

If you wish to add your claim, fill the form on the Get Help page and tick “Yes” on “Would you like to add your claim for financial loss?”—we will then give you secure access to upload receipts.

We are still finalizing banking arrangements, but early supporters can help cover legal drafting, data security, and outreach.

JazzCash: 0309 534 5396

Account name: Sharafat Hussain

Email proof: article15@gmail.com

Submit claim details

What can you claim?

Everything must be documented and verifiable. Claims can include:

Loss of time or opportunity.
Visa fees, hotel bookings, airline tickets, and other travel expenses.
Loss of employment or business revenue due to prolonged stay.
Lawyer fees or court expenses.

Once we file the lawsuit we will share requirements for uploading receipts and evidence.

Reach out to Article15.travel

Share your story, become a volunteer, or add your claim for damages using the quick actions below.

Click here to share your story Get involved – become a volunteer Add your claim for damages

Latest public stories

Members choose which experiences to publish. Private submissions still power legal action.

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⚖️ Public Disclaimer

Article 15 is a non-political legal reforms movement, led by oversea Pakistanis and citizen alike. The content published on this website and related platforms:

does not accuse any individual or institution of criminal conduct;
does not interfere with ongoing judicial proceedings;
does not replace legal advice or court processes.

All views expressed are based on publicly available law, constitutional principles, and lived experiences shared voluntarily by affected citizens. We respect the judiciary, state institutions, and the rule of law. Our purpose is awareness, reform, and lawful advocacy—nothing more.

For legal advice specific to your case, please consult a qualified lawyer.