ISLAMABAD: A petition was filed in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the interior ministry’s order to three Filipino missionaries, including principals of Islamabad’s two convent schools, to leave Pakistan.

The petition was filed by Bishop Roman Catholic Diocese through advocate Rana Abid Nazir Khan.

The interior ministry on June 16, 2015 ordered the missionaries Miraflor Aclan Bahan, principal of Islamabad Convent School Sector F-8, Delia Coyoca Rubio, principal of Islamabad Convent Sector H-8, and Elizabeth Umail Siguenza, finance officer at H-8 Convent School, to leave the country in 15 days.

The letter issued in this regard stated that since the three were issued visa for missionary work, they could not take up paid employment.

Missionaries include principals of Islamabad convent schools

Challenging this letter, the petitioner contended that as many as 42 schools in Pakistan are being run by the local and foreign missionaries.

It was pointed out that both F-8 and H-8 convent schools were established in 1992 and have been managed by missionaries since their establishment.

In May 2014, the directorate general of immigration and passport of the interior ministry had extended the visas of these three missionaries for a period of two years.

But in the following month of June, their visas were cancelled and they were asked to leave Pakistan in 15 days.

The petition claimed that about 4,000 students are enrolled in both schools and expelling their principals without suitable replacement would have a negative impact on the students’ education.

The petitioner said that a number of foreign missionary workers, from all over the world, have been working in Pakistan in the field of education but had not been asked to leave the country. IHC single bench would take up the petition on Wednesday (today).

Published in Dawn, June 24th, 2015

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