Accused involved in several cases, including high treason, sitting abroad: SC

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court has allowed Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leader and former petroleum minister Dr Asim Hussain to go abroad for treatment besides directing the interior ministry to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

A two-member bench of the apex court, comprising Justice Mushir Alam and Justice Qazi Faez Isa, on Thursday took up for hearing a petition filed by Dr Asim Hussain seeking removal of his name from the ECL for going abroad. The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) did not file the requisite reply during the hearing of the case. The counsel for Dr Asim Hussain took the plea that his client had earlier returned to Pakistan after undergoing treatment abroad and later his name was again placed on the ECL.

Justice Faez Isa remarked why the criterion of law is not equal for all. Biggest jobs are being done while sitting abroad. The accused involved in several cases including high treason case are sitting abroad. What steps have been taken for their return to country? The court allowed Dr Asim Hussain to go abroad besides directing the interior ministry to remove his name from the ECL.