IHC seeks replies from GHQ, interior ministry in Asad Durrani case

Court inquires reasons for placing the ex-spy chief's name on ECL

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed General Headquarters (GHQ) and the interior ministry to submit their replies in a case pertaining to the removal of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani's name from the exit control list (ECL).

Durrani's counsel Umar Farrukh and defence ministry representative Brigadier Falak Naz appeared before Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani earlier today.

The court inquired the reasons for placing the ex-spy chief's name on the ECL. In response, Brigadier Naz informed the court that Durrani who has held the post of Director General (DG) ISI and DG Military Intelligence wrote a book with the former Indian intelligence chief. He further relayed that an inquiry by the army headquarters is underway regarding this matter.

Justice Kayani asked Brigadier Naz to give a specific date for the inquiry to end but the latter said he was not aware of that.

Durrani's lawyer Farrukh informed the court his client did not receive any notice concerning the inquiry but he did recall that Durrani was invited for tea to the GHQ regarding the matter.

Farrukh also contended that General (retd) Baig's name was not placed on ECL in the Air Marshal Asghar Khan case. He submitted that his client has to attend a conference on 26-27 November.

Upon hearing this, Justice Kayani remarked that, "Nothing can be done till the GHQ inquiry report and interior ministry's reply is submitted in court."

Hearing was adjourned till December 3.

It is pertinent to mention that Durrani's name was added to the ECL on May 29.