1517924 (Refugee)

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal considered the protection visa application of a Pakistani national. The applicant claimed to be a Shia Muslim and to have been involved with the Pakistan People’s Party and its student federation wing. The Tribunal was required to determine whether the applicant met the criteria for a protection visa under section 36(2)(a) of the *Migration Act 1958* (Cth).

The Tribunal's assessment involved considering Ministerial Direction No. 56, which mandates the consideration of relevant policy guidelines and country information assessments. The Tribunal reviewed the Department's files, the applicant's submitted information, and country information regarding the Pakistan People’s Party and its student wing. It also considered the applicant's written claims and oral evidence, including details about his family background, education, and his understanding of the Pakistan People’s Party's history, organisation, and functions. The Tribunal was satisfied that the applicant was a citizen of Pakistan, born in [Country 1], and had resided in Lahore, Pakistan, with his Shia Muslim family.

The Tribunal found that the applicant satisfied the criterion in section 36(2)(a) of the *Migration Act*. Consequently, it did not consider the complementary protection provisions under section 36(2)(aa). The Tribunal remitted the matter for reconsideration with a direction that the applicant satisfies section 36(2)(a).