39
KARACHI: Model Ayyan Ali approached the Sindh High Court Tuesday, seeking the removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
In the constitutional petition filed through her counsel Advocate Sardar Latif Khosa, she said the order to put her name on the ECL is illegal since authorities have returned her passport.
The supermodel said she has to travel abroad for medical treatment and professional assignments and since she has been released on bail, her name should be struck off the ECL.
Related: Customs court returns Ayyan's passport
Ayyan maintained that the authorities' decision to disallow her from travelling abroad is a violation of her fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 18 of the Constitution.
She further said she was not being allowed to travel abroad even though she attends all court proceedings and her counsel has fulfilled court formalities.
Earlier this month, Ayyan was returned her passport on a conditional basis after she submitted surety bonds of Rs3 million.
A week later, customs authorities moved the Islamabad High Court against the decision of the special court for customs to return Ayyan's passport.
In the petition, they expressed the apprehension that the supermodel may abscond if she was allowed to travel abroad.
The supermodel approached the Lahore High Court last month, seeking acquittal in the currency smuggling case against her.
Ayyan was apprehended while attempting to travel out of Pakistan with half a million US dollars. The amount was seized by customs when she was checking in for a flight to Dubai at Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA) on March 14 this year.
A special customs court formally charged her with attempted currency smuggling last month, almost nine months after she was arrested.
The model pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Tahir Siddiqui is a Karachi-based reporter for Dawn with over 35 years of experience covering the Sindh Assembly, Karachi City Council, and the provincial government. He can be found on X at @DawnReporterTS.
