Name on ECL: PPP leader files contempt petition against official

PESHAWAR: Pakistan People’s Party leader Asma Alamgir on Monday filed contempt of court petition against secretary Ministry of Interior for not removing her name from the Exit Control List (ECL) even after a clear direction by the high court.

The PPP leader, who is facing trial in the National Accountability Bureau ‘s reference in the accountability court, has submitted in the petition that being a prominent politician and vocal opponent of the present government, she has been unabatedly harassed on the flimsy grounds to desist her from playing her political role and speak for the downtrodden segments of the society. Major (r) Azam Suleman Khan, Secretary Ministry of Interior, has been made respondent in the contempt of court petition.

The petition, filed through Barrister Masroor Shah and Uzma Sattar, requested the court to start contempt of court proceedings against the bureaucrat who is clearly denying the orders of the court.

About the facts of the case, it was submitted that first, the ministry placed her name on the ECL through a notification issued on March 2, last year for a period of one year.

She stated that the Interior Ministry’s notification lapsed on March 2, this year but her name was not removed for the ECL against which she moved the high court.

It was explained that the PHC on April 24 allowed her writ petition and directed the Ministry of Interior to remove her name from the ECL and asked the petitioner to bring this into the notice of the accountability court while visiting abroad during the trial of her case.

She pointed out that on May 7, a copy of the PHC order was submitted with an application to the respondent secretary, requesting him to update the immigration record of the FIA at all airports to the effect of the petitioner’s name and her name be deactivated and they should refrain from creating any sort of hindrance in the way of the petitioner’s free movement and travel abroad in the light of the judgment.

“Despite categorical and unequivocal orders of the court, the respondent secretary is adamant on not implementing the high court order,” the petitioner claimed and thus the secretary committed contempt of court by flouting the order of the high court to refuse removal of her name From ECL.

The petitioner requested the court to start the contempt proceeding against the secretary for flouting judicial order and punish him as per the law.

The petitioner also requested the court to direct the respondent to update forthwith the immigration record of FIA at all airports and the petitioner’s name be deactivated from the ECL.

Talking to reporters after filing contempt of court petition, Asma Alamgir criticised the present rulers for bringing the country on the verge of collapse. “Is this new Pakistan where a babu (secretary) defies the order of the high court on the dictates of the rulers,” she questioned.

The PPP leader said that Prime Minister Imran Khan is not above the law as a prime minister had quit

the post during the PPP government after the court order and here in new Pakistan, civil servants have started disobeying the courts’ orders.