The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to inform it of the reasons behind barring PPP leader and former Sindh information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, a prime accused person in two multi-billion corruption cases, from travelling abroad.

Headed by Justice Shafi Siddiqui, a division bench hearing three applications against Memon – two seeking extension in his pre-arrest bail in the cases and the one against federal government’s decision of placing his name on the Exit Control List.

The bench also extended pre-arrest bail granted to the former provincial minister to the next date of hearing on May 2.

Meanwhile, the court also directed its office to separate Memon’s bail applications that were earlier clubbed together with his application seeking removal of his name from the ECL.

The bench issued a notice to the FIA to file its comments stating the reasons for placing Memon’s name on the ECL.

The PPP leader faces two corruptions references, one relating to alleged award of advertisements at exorbitant rates and the other to illegal adjustment and consolidation of hundreds of acres of land in favour of a private housing project.

One of the references sent by the National Accountability Bureau chairman said that the investigation was conducted regarding corruption and corrupt practices in the advertisement awareness campaigns on TV channels and FM radio between July 2013 and June 2015 and it was found that the accused acted with the connivance of each other resulting in losses to the national exchequer.

The other reference against Memon pertained to illegal allotment and adjustment of land in 43 dehs of Malir in favour of Bahria Town.

According to Memon’s counsel, NAB had filed reference against Memon without giving him an opportunity of fair hearing.