Inform Maryam of ECL decision, LHC asks govt

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday asked the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government to inform Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz about its decision regarding removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

A two-member bench comprising Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Anwarul Haq Pannu took up Maryam’s second petition seeking the removal of her name from the no-fly list and one time permission to visit London to enquire after her ailing father and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif. The LHC had disposed of her earlier petition on December 9, with the direction that the government’s review committee should decide the matter within a week.

On a query from the court, Maryam’s lawyer Advocate Amjad Pervez said it had been two weeks since the directive was issued to the government and no decision was yet taken on the matter. He added Maryam’s representative Atta Tarrar had also appeared before the government’s review committee but still no decision was taken.

The court asked Additional Attorney General Chaudhry Ishtiaq A Khan if the government had taken any decision on removing the PML-N vice president’s name from the ECL, to which the AAG said: “The review committee presents its recommendation to the cabinet which then decides on the matter”.

Justice Pannu noted that though the government had yet to decide on the matter he had read in the Monday’s newspapers that the government would not allow her to go abroad. “The government has to take a decision and they should do so. How are they giving a statement before the decision is taken,” he asked.

During Monday’s proceedings the court said Maryam should be informed of whatever decision was taken on Tuesday (today) during the cabinet meeting. Justice Pannu also asked Maryam’s counsel to explain the maintainability of the case. “Is this petition for Maryam Nawaz or Nawaz Sharif,” he asked in response to which Advocate Pervez said a summary of Sharif’s case had been included in his daughter’s petition as their cases were connected. The proceedings were adjourned until December 26 (Thursday).

Meanwhile, PTI’s senior leader and former law minister Dr Babar Awan said on Monday the incumbent government will never permit any convict to leave the country.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Awan said: “Those who take bail on medical grounds become healthy when they arrive in foreign states”. He added the PTI had not done any politics on the matter of former premier Sharif.

“Disallowing Maryam from travelling abroad shows supremacy of the law. ECL laws were prepared in 1980 and amended in 2010,” he said.Referring to the special court’s verdict, Dr Awan said the federal government will adopt constitutional and legal stance on high treason case against former president Gen (retd) Pervez Musharraf. “The government may challenge the decision if finds it suitable,” he added.

On the occasion, the PTI leader pledged to give due respect to the parliament.Regarding curfew in occupied Kashmir, Awan said the Indian government had attacked the innocent people of the valley with strict lockdown, adding Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government only wanted genocide of Muslim community.

The PTI leader demanded from the United Nations to suspend membership of India over its increasing violence of human rights, adding any Indian aggression will be responded befittingly.