LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday told the Lahore High Court that the name of anchorperson Imran Riaz Khan had been placed in the Passport Control List (PCL) by the directorate of immigration and passports, Islamabad.

A report filed by the FIA director legal further stated that the name of the anchorperson had been included in the PCL on the recommendation of the agency’s cybercrime wing following registration of an FIR.

It said there was a strong apprehension that the petitioner would flee the country in order to avoid prosecution in the case registered against him.

The report said the petitioner filed the petition without availing the first remedy available in the law by filing an appeal before a review committee.

The FIA said previously the name of the petitioner was put on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL), however, later his name was removed.

After going through the agency’s report, Justice Shujaat Ali Khan reserved his verdict on the petition of the anchorperson challenging the prohibition on his travel abroad.

Petitioner’s counsel Azhar Siddique argued that there was no case registered against his client but the government unlawfully included his name in the stop list.

He said the government’s action violated the fundamental rights of the petitioner.

He said the government could not restrict citizens’ free movement without a legal justification.

The lawyer requested the court to order removal of the petitioner’s name from the stop list and permit him to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2024