Travel restrictions on Shakeel Afridi’s family: PHC directs federal govt to respond to petition

PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Tuesday asked the federal government to respond to the petition challenging the travel restrictions imposed on Imrana Shakeel, the wife of Dr Shakeel Afridi, who was undergoing imprisonment on charges of alleged espionage.

A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and Justice Wiqar Ahmad heard the case.Assistant Attorney General Daulat Khan Mehmood and the petitioner’s lawyer Arif Jan Afridi appeared before the bench. During the proceedings, the court was informed that the names of Imrana Shakeel and her children had been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). The court was told that the PHC had ordered the relevant officials on November 16, 2023 to remove their names from the ECL.

Arif Jan Afridi said a notification was issued on June 1, 2024, which confirmed that their names had been removed from the ECL; however, these were subsequently added to the Passport Control List (PCL) and the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).

Imrana Shakeel had filed complaints with the relevant authorities about the travel restrictions, but to no avail, which prompted her to approach the high court once again, her lawyer said.Arif Jan Afridi argued that his clients were neither involved in any criminal activities nor any FIR registered against them. He contended that the restrictions were unjust and requested the court to order the removal of their names from the PCL and PNIL.After hearing the arguments, the court issued notices to the federal government to submit its response within 10 days.