ECL trauma: SC reserves ruling in govt plea against Ayyan

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order in a plea filed by the federal government, praying it to suspend the Sindh High Court’s June 2 order wherein it directed the authorities concerned to remove supermodel Ayyan Ali’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

Sardar Latif Khosa, the counsel for the model, submitted before the two-justice bench headed by Justice Sheikh Azmat Saeed that officials of the Ministry of Interior say that they would die, but not let Ayyan go abroad, adding the ministry is making a mockery of the law and the constitution.

Responding to Khosa’s argument, Additional Attorney General Waqar Rana said the counsel wanted to make a headline for the media. However, Justice Saeed asked both the counsels to refrain from turning the court into a fish bazaar. The justice said due to the bickering between the federation and Ayyan’s counsels and continuous interruption, the order on the government’s application would be dictated in the chamber. The order is likely to be issued today (Friday).

Meanwhile, a senior law officer revealed to The Express Tribune that Ayyan had filed a contempt plea in the high court instead of a writ petition.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 24^th, 2016.