PESHAWAR, May 16: A two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court on Thursday dismissed an application of an alleged drug trafficker, Haji Ayub Afridi, praying the court for issuance of a passport to him.

As the name of Haji Ayub Afridi was placed on Exit Control List (ECL), therefore, the government has not been preparing his passport.

Mr Afridi has filed a writ petition before the high court for removal of his name from the ECL. Along with the main petition he had filed an application for temporary injunctions, praying that a passport be issued to him till final disposal of his case.

The bench comprising Justice Nasirul Mulk and Justice Malik Hamid Saeed dismissed the application, observing that almost same prayer was made in the main writ petition. The bench admitted the main petition to full hearing and dismissed the application.

Deputy Attorney-General Salahuddin Khan appeared for the federal government whereas the petitioner was represented by Mohammad Jamil Khan. The DAG had submitted comments on behalf of the government.

The government has claimed that the petitioner was required in various cases of drug trafficking. It was added that he was sentenced by a court in Karachi and was released after undergoing his prison term.