ISLAMABAD: The Islam­abad High Court ordered the interior ministry on Wednesday to remove the name of Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Develop­ment Sayed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari from the Exit Control List (ECL).

The order was issued by a two-judge IHC bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani on a petition moved by Mr Bukhari, better known as Zulfi Bukhari.

“In view of the above position, law and facts, the instant petition is allowed and memorandum dated August 4, 2018, issued by respondent No 1 [interior ministry], is set aside. Respondent No 1 is directed to remove name of the petitioner from Exit Control List. It is clarified that any observation, made hereinabove, has no bearing on the ongoing inquiry/investigation against the petitioner being conducted by NAB,” the judgement said.

The court observed that the state of affairs clearly indicated that NAB did not genuinely believe in the reason advanced by it while recommending the name of the petitioner to be placed on the ECL.

The court order noted: “Even otherwise, there is nothing on record to show that the petitioner has not cooperated with NAB. Moreover, as noted above, interior ministry while issuing the impugned memorandum acted without application of mind.”

Published in Dawn, December 13th, 2018