SHC issues notice to interior secretary on Ayaan Ali’s contempt plea

Karachi

The Sindh High Court on Friday issued notices to the interior secretary and others on contempt of court plea filed by fashion model Ayyan Ali against the ministry of interior after she was not allowed to travel abroad by immigration authorities despite the court’s orders.

Ayyan Ali was barred by the immigration authorities at Karachi airport when she was to board in private airplane to travel abroad after removal of her name from the exit control list (ECL). The ministry of interior had deleted the name of Ayyan Ali from the ECL and interior secretary had informed the Sindh High Court that there was no legal impediment for her travelling abroad.

Applicant counsel submitted in the application that the applicant was once again restrained by the federal investigation authorities despite her name had been deleted from the ECL.

He submitted that the high court had ordered removal of the name of petitioner from the ECL and directed the interior ministry that name of the petitioner shall not be placed again on the ECL without the prior approval of the court.

He submitted that alleged contemnors, including the interior secretary, had given undertaking before the court that there was no legal impediment for her travelling, but they had committed gross violation of the court directives.

He requested the court to take an action against alleged contemnors and direct them to comply with the orders of the court in true letter and spirit.

The SHC division bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi, issued notices to secretary interior and others and called their replies by June 23.

The court on June 2 had once again quashed the memorandum regarding placement of model Ayyan Ali’s name on the exit control list and directed interior ministry to immediately remove name of the model from the ECL. Ayyan Ali, now on bail, was facing US$5,00,000 smuggling trial before the customs court at Rawalpindi.