Maryam Nawaz moves court a second time seeking removal from no-fly list

Published December 21, 2019
PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz had first approached the court with this request two weeks ago on December 7. — AFP/File
PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz had first approached the court with this request two weeks ago on December 7. — AFP/File

Pakistan Muslim League - Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President and daughter of former premier Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, on Saturday submitted a second petition with the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

The petition has been set for hearing by a two-member bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi on December 23 (Monday).

Maryam had first approached the court with this request two weeks ago on December 7.

Following this, on December 9, the court disposed off the petition and directed the federal government's review committee to decide on the matter within seven days.

During the proceedings, Maryam's lawyer Azam Nazir Tarar had said that the court should change her petition's status to "pending" and direct the government to decide on the review application. However, the court said it didn't want to increase pressure on the government by doing so.

In the latest petition filed by her lawyers, Muhammad Amjad Pervaiz and Azam Nazeer Tarar, the PML-N vice president is once again seeking a one-time permission to travel abroad for six weeks from the date of departure.

"The respondent government be kindly directed to delete the name of the petitioner from Exit Control List forthwith. Meanwhile, pending the disposal of the instant petition, the petitioner may kindly be granted one-time permission to travel abroad for six weeks from the date of departure," the petition reads.

The petition has listed the federal government, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and director FIA, director general immigration and passport Islamabad and chairman and director general of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) as respondents.

The petition requests the memorandum dated August 20, 2018, be declared as "illegal, without lawful authority, void ab-initio and of no legal effect in the interest of justice". Additionally, it is also seeking the award of "any other relief deemed appropriate in the peculiar circumstances of the case".

Along with her father, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, the government had decided to place Maryam's name on the ECL on August 20, 2018. Maryam is currently free on bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, in which she is a suspect, but her name remains on the no-fly list.

Nawaz, on the other hand, travelled to London last month after the government and courts granted him permission to fly abroad on medical grounds.

Opinion

Editorial

Business concerns
Updated 26 Apr, 2024

Business concerns

There is no doubt that these issues are impeding a positive business clime, which is required to boost private investment and economic growth.
Musical chairs
26 Apr, 2024

Musical chairs

THE petitioners are quite helpless. Yet again, they are being expected to wait while the bench supposed to hear...
Global arms race
26 Apr, 2024

Global arms race

THE figure is staggering. According to the annual report of Sweden-based think tank Stockholm International Peace...
Digital growth
Updated 25 Apr, 2024

Digital growth

Democratising digital development will catalyse a rapid, if not immediate, improvement in human development indicators for the underserved segments of the Pakistani citizenry.
Nikah rights
25 Apr, 2024

Nikah rights

THE Supreme Court recently delivered a judgement championing the rights of women within a marriage. The ruling...
Campus crackdowns
25 Apr, 2024

Campus crackdowns

WHILE most Western governments have either been gladly facilitating Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza, or meekly...