ISLAMABAD, Oct 27: Former prime minister and chairperson of the Pakistan People’s Party Benazir Bhutto has condemned the government action in barring All Pakistan Minorities Alliance (APMA) chairman Shahbaz Bhatti from travelling abroad by placing his name on the Exit Control List.

In a statement on Monday, the former premier said by placing the name of the APMA chairman on the ECL, the regime wanted to silence a voice from being raised at international forums against, what she called, tyranny and injustice in the country.

Such tactics cannot silence the voice of justice and reason, she said. She asked the government to immediately remove the name of Mr Bhatti from the ECL.

Ms Bhutto also directed the party leadership to take up this matter of human rights violation at all forums to keep the government from, what she said, harassing Shahbaz Bhatti. She also urged the human rights bodies and lawyers to raise their voice on the issue.