Eclectic approach: Pick and choose in no-fly list decisions
Ministry uses delaying tactics in placing names on recommendation of NAB
PHOTO:FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The Ministry of Interior has reversed its four-year-old policy of placing suspects’ name on the Exit Control List (ECL) as it has once again started deciding such cases on the basis of personal liking and disliking rather than using an objective criterion.
Right now there are many recommendations by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for placing names of graft suspects on the ECL but the ministry has not taken any concrete steps and is apparently resorting to delaying tactics.
NAB has asked the Interior Ministry to place names of 23 officers of different Punjab government companies on the ECL. However, these names have still not been put on the list.
Federal govt not ready to place Sharif's family on ECL
In response to a question, an official source in the Ministry of Interior on Friday said the matter of placing names of the officials on the ECL is under consideration.
“A decision in this regard has, however, not been taken as there is a proper procedure involved in complying with the recommendations of an institution,” he added.
He said the issue of placing names of these persons has been referred to a sub-committee comprising of the interior minister, law minister and finance minister.
The source was, however, not sure when the subcommittee would meet to decide the issue. “It may take place anytime the next week,” he said.
The three-member sub-committee for the ECL is headed by Interior Minister Azam Khan.
However, this committee too, sources said, would further refer the case along with its recommendations to the cabinet committee. It is the cabinet committee that has got the power to decide about placing names on the ECL.
During the term of former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan the process of placing names on the list was not only simplified but also depoliticised to a great extent.
However, during the term of Ahsan Iqbal a new procedure was adopted in which the cabinet committee decides such case. Iqbal was of the view that matters related with the ECL as per decisions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan should be taken up by the federal cabinet.
How things work at the ministry with regard to the ECL may well be understood by the fact that as soon as the army forwarded recommendation for placing name of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) former chief Asad Durrani on the ECL, his name was put on the list the very next day.
Zulfi Bukhari moves Islamabad High Court against ECL placement
n the other hand, NAB on June 11 asked the ministry to place names of former PM Nawaz Sharif and his family members on the ECL in view of their ongoing trial. However, the ministry is yet to take action in this connection and meeting of sub-committee is yet to take place.
There are some measures which may be taken by the ministry to bar someone from flying abroad if some institution forwards recommendations in this context.
Officials of the interior ministry may put the suspect’s name on the blacklist. This process does not require lengthy process but has almost the same implications.
On the recommendations of NAB, the name of Zulfi Bukhari, a close friend of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, was put on the blacklist to bar him from flying abroad.
The former US military attaché Joseph Hall’s name was also placed on the blacklist when he was found involved in a road accident that killed a young man in Islamabad.
The Ministry of Interior has reversed its four-year-old policy of placing suspects’ name on the Exit Control List (ECL) as it has once again started deciding such cases on the basis of personal liking and disliking rather than using an objective criterion.
Right now there are many recommendations by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for placing names of graft suspects on the ECL but the ministry has not taken any concrete steps and is apparently resorting to delaying tactics.
NAB has asked the Interior Ministry to place names of 23 officers of different Punjab government companies on the ECL. However, these names have still not been put on the list.
Federal govt not ready to place Sharif's family on ECL
In response to a question, an official source in the Ministry of Interior on Friday said the matter of placing names of the officials on the ECL is under consideration.
“A decision in this regard has, however, not been taken as there is a proper procedure involved in complying with the recommendations of an institution,” he added.
He said the issue of placing names of these persons has been referred to a sub-committee comprising of the interior minister, law minister and finance minister.
The source was, however, not sure when the subcommittee would meet to decide the issue. “It may take place anytime the next week,” he said.
The three-member sub-committee for the ECL is headed by Interior Minister Azam Khan.
However, this committee too, sources said, would further refer the case along with its recommendations to the cabinet committee. It is the cabinet committee that has got the power to decide about placing names on the ECL.
During the term of former interior minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan the process of placing names on the list was not only simplified but also depoliticised to a great extent.
However, during the term of Ahsan Iqbal a new procedure was adopted in which the cabinet committee decides such case. Iqbal was of the view that matters related with the ECL as per decisions of the Supreme Court of Pakistan should be taken up by the federal cabinet.
How things work at the ministry with regard to the ECL may well be understood by the fact that as soon as the army forwarded recommendation for placing name of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) former chief Asad Durrani on the ECL, his name was put on the list the very next day.
Zulfi Bukhari moves Islamabad High Court against ECL placement
n the other hand, NAB on June 11 asked the ministry to place names of former PM Nawaz Sharif and his family members on the ECL in view of their ongoing trial. However, the ministry is yet to take action in this connection and meeting of sub-committee is yet to take place.
There are some measures which may be taken by the ministry to bar someone from flying abroad if some institution forwards recommendations in this context.
Officials of the interior ministry may put the suspect’s name on the blacklist. This process does not require lengthy process but has almost the same implications.
On the recommendations of NAB, the name of Zulfi Bukhari, a close friend of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, was put on the blacklist to bar him from flying abroad.
The former US military attaché Joseph Hall’s name was also placed on the blacklist when he was found involved in a road accident that killed a young man in Islamabad.