Govt ordered to remove Zulfi Bukhari's name from blacklist

Islamabad High Court dismisses another petition questioning Bukhari, Imran's use of Noor Khan airbase

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court on Friday ordered the government to remove Zulfikar Bukhari’s name from the blacklist.

The high court maintained a petition filed by Bukhari seeking removal of his name from the blacklist and dismissed another petition questioning his and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairperson Imran Khan’s use of the Noor Khan airbase in Islamabad for a private flight to Saudi Arabia.



Imran’s close aide, Bukhari came into the spotlight in June when he was briefly barred from leaving the country to fly to Saudi Arabia alongside Imran at the Nur Khan Airbase. Bukhari was later granted six-day permission to perform Umrah by the interior ministry.

He moved the high court against his name being placed on the no-fly list hours after returning to the country. Justice Aamer Farooq of the IHC issued notices to respondents after hearing the petition.



In his petition, Bukhari said the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had summoned him in connection with companies named in the Panama Papers. He said he only received the notices after his father forwarded them to him in London.

Bukhari argues that since he is ordinarily a resident of United Kingdom, he had not violated any law. He also claimed to be incognizant of anything pertaining to the Panama Papers.