ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has left the matter related to travel ban on a former ISI chief to the federal government.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani, disposing of a petition filed by retired Lt Gen Asad Durrani, ex-director general of the Inter Services Intelligence, directed the federal government to decide his representation filed before the interior ministry for review of its decision to place him on the exit control list (ECL).

The court order stated that in view of the fact that the authorities concerned had concluded the inquiry against the petitioner, the federal government might decide the representation filed by him.

The Military Intelligence wrote to the interior ministry last year to put Gen Durrani on ECL for co-authoring a book, The Spy Chronicles, with A. S. Dulat, a former chief of India’s spy agency, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).

Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor, the director general of the Inter Services Public Relations(ISPR), disclosed at a press briefing on Feb 22 that Gen Durrani had been found guilty of violating the military code of conduct. He said a Court of Inquiry was ordered against Durrani after he co-authored the controversial book with Amarjit Singh (AS) Dulat.

Asad Durrani, who headed ISI from Aug 1990 till March 1992, and former RAW chief A.S. Dulat had published the book in India last year. An inquiry was launched against Durrani last year. He had also been summoned to the General Headquarters (GHQ) in May when a formal Court of Inquiry, headed by a serving lieutenant general, was conducted to probe the matter. He was asked to explain his position on views attributed to him in the book.

In the petition filed with the Islamabad High Court, the former ISI chief’s counsel said his client was invited to the GHQ over a cup of tea. He said the ex ISI chief wanted to go abroad, but couldn’t do so since his name was on the ECL.

Published in Dawn, February 28th, 2019