Blasphemy allegation: Judge dismisses ECL plea

LAHORE: An additional district and sessions judge on Wednesday dismissed a request to place the name of a woman accused of blasphemy on the Exit Control List. Waleeha Arafat has been released on bail. The complainant in the case had filed the application for a direction to place her name on the ECL stating that Arafat was released on bail on October 15, 2015 by the Supreme Court of Pakistan. “She has not been appearing at hearings since November 4, 2015,” said Ghulam Mustafa Chaudhry, the complainant’s counsel. He said that Arafat might leave the country. He requested the court to pass directions to the government to place her name on the ECL. Arafat’s counsel said that free movement was her fundamental right. “Waleeha Arafat’s life is in danger that is why she has not been appearing before the court,” he said. He requested the court to exempt her from personally attending the hearings. The request was granted. An FIR was registered by Abdul Mon’am Shah, a security guard.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 28^th,  2016.