PESHAWAR: Peshawar High Court on Tuesday sought replies from federal interior ministry, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and other relevant authorities to plea of the provincial minister for higher education, Meena Khan Afridi, against placing his name on travel restriction lists as well as blocking his passport.

A bench consisting of Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Babar Sattar fixed June 11 (Thursday) for next hearing of the petition as well as a contempt of court plea against his offloading by FIA from travelling to Germany from Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar, on June 7 despite the permission granted by the high court.

The bench directed a deputy attorney general to inform relevant authorities about the petitions filed against placement of minister’s name in Exit Control List (ECL) and Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) and blocking of his passport by the government, as well as about the contempt plea against violation of the court’s order.

Petitioner’s counsel Bashir Khan Wazir stated that his client was provincial minister for higher education as well as that of local government department. He said that the petitioner had been invited by the German embassy to participate in a joint research project at University of Tubingen.

PHC will also hear on June 11 a contempt petition about offloading him despite court’s order

He pointed out that the federal government had placed his name on travel restriction lists, which was challenged by the petitioner. However, he said that response to that earlier petition, the federal government informed a bench headed by PHC Chief Justice SM Attique Shah that his name was only on the PNIL and no other list.

Consequently, he contended the bench granted interim relief to the petitioner on ordered removal of his name from PNIL. He added that the court permitted him to travel to Germany to attend the programme there.

Mr Wazir said when the petitioner reached the airport on June 7, he was informed that his name was on ECL and Passport Control List (PCL), and that his passport was blocked. Thus, he added, the petitioner was prevented from travelling abroad despite clear court’s order.

During course of hearing, Justice Ijaz Anwar remarked that it would have been appropriate for the petitioner to file a contempt petition. Mr Wazir replied that a contempt petition was indeed filed, and the current petition was submitted following the PHC chief justice’s directions a day earlier. Justice Anwar assured that both the petitions would be heard together.

The counsel insisted the court to immediately order removal of minister’s name from ECL and PCL so as he could travel to Germany. He claimed that authorities added his name to a new list the very day after the court’s previous order.

“We do not pass orders that are not implemented. We will hear both petitions together on June 11,” Justice Ijaz Anwar remarked.

Published in Dawn, June 10th, 2026