Maleeka Bokhari thanks Maryam for getting her name removed from ECL

LAHORE: Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Maleeka Ali Bokhari thanked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her timely intervention in getting her name removed from the Exit Control List (ECL), also known as no-fly list, so that the she could visit her ailing sister in Australia.

Maleeka had appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to allow her to visit the “mother figure” sister in Australia, who had suffered brain hemorrhage and was on her deathbed. Taking notice of her request, Maryam through her social media account, X, assured her that she would talk to the concerned authorities in this regard.

“Let me speak to the concerned authorities Maleeka. I hope you have filed a request in writing officially. May Allah bless your sister with good health,” she tweeted.

After a while, Maleeka thanked Maryam for her assistance. “Thank you for your timely intervention. I have been informed that my name has been removed from the no fly list,” she responded.

In May 2023, names of hundreds of PTI leaders and former assembly members including party founder Imran Khan had been placed to the ECL.

Their names were placed on the no-fly list following the May 9 incident so that it could be investigated. The attacks refer to the violent protests that broke out after the arrest of the incarcerated PTI founder in Al-Qadir Trust case.

The placement of their names on the no-fly list prevented them from going abroad so that the allegations of their involvement in the May 9 violent riots could be investigated. The incidents on May 9, 2023, caused damage to public and private property, particularly those belonging to the state’s military.

In her request, Maleeka had said being a Pakistani citizen, the constitution had entitled her the fundamental right to freedom of movement and travel. She had said her eldest sister was fighting for her life and she wanted to see her face.

“Her brain has swelled up, (she) had a massive heart attack, and is now on life support on a ventilator. The doctors have given us 24 hours to decide whether they will declare her dead or keep her on the ventilator,” she had written adding that PM Shehbaz and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had placed her on an illegal no-fly travel list for a year now.

“My sister has no political affiliation; she is a mother to me and I want to see her in person one last time. I urge the state & @CMShehbaz to give me one-time permission to be with my sister. This is my fundamental right. Our religion, ethics, and law of the land also dictates this,” she had said tagging Shehbaz’s twitter account.