LAHORE, Nov 20: The Lahore High Court granted on Thursday a one-time permission to PPP secretary-general Jahangir Badr to proceed to Saudi Arabia for the performance of Umra.

Justice Syed Zahid Husain also issued directions to the interior ministry not to hinder Mr Badr’s 15-day visit to Saudi Arabia.

The PPP secretary-general had submitted that his name was put on the exit control list (ECL) in 1999 and he was not being allowed to go for Umra. He also contended that his passport would expire next month and the interior ministry was hindering the issuance of a fresh one or its renewal.

Opposing the plea of Mr Badr, a deputy attorney-general submitted that two references were pending against the PPP leader. According to a Supreme Court direction, their proceeding was in progress on a daily basis.

The DAG contended that Mr Badr’s name was put on the ECL to ensure his attendance in the hearing of the references. He submitted that Mr Badr could not be granted permission even if a reference against him was in the pipeline.

Mr Badr’s counsel Munir Ahmad Khan contented that the PPP leader had no intention to abstain from the proceedings. He submitted that Mr Badr had a big political stake in the country and could not afford to be a fugitive from the law.

The counsel submitted that the inclusion of the PPP leader’s name on the ECL was political victimization and personal vendetta of Interior Minister Faisal Saleh Hayat who wanted Mr Badr to make a personal request to him for permission to go for Umra.