30 December 2004	Thursday	17 Ziqa'ad 1425

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KARACHI, Dec 29: The Sindh High Court disposed of as not pressed a writ petition moved by PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari for issuance of a passport and against inclusion of his name in the exit control list.

As the petition came up before a division bench, comprising Justices Wahid Bux Brohi and Mushir Alam, Deputy Attorney-General Nadeem Azhar Siddiqui informed the court that the petitioner had been issued a passport and his name had been taken off the ECL.

Deputy Director (Immigration) Ghulam Mustafa Joyo, who accompanied the DAG, stated that the petitioner had made no formal application before the filing of his petition.

He sent his representative to the passport office who was told that machine readable passports were now being issued and that the petitioner would have to appear in person for securing the one. The petitioner put in an application subsequently and was issued a passport. His name was also deleted from the ECL in the meanwhile.

Advocate Farooq H. Naek, the petitioner's counsel, did not press the petition and the bench disposed it of as not pressed. Meanwhile, Mr Zardari's petition for security guards and travel in a vehicle with tinted glasses was adjourned by the bench to Jan 14.