Govt decides to remove Bilawal, Murad's names from no-fly list

The PPP leaders are implicated in Rs42 billion fake bank accounts scam

ISLAMABAD: In compliance with the orders of the Supreme Court, the federal cabinet has decided to remove the names of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah from the Exit Control List (ECL), but not from the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) report.

The decision was taken during a federal cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday. Federal Minister for Law Barrister Farogh Naseem briefed the cabinet on the legal aspects of the Supreme Court’s verdict.



The two leaders were among 172 suspects named in the money laundering case while recommendations to put their names on the ECL were made by the judicial investigation team.
Talking to the media after the meeting, Special Adviser to the PM on Accountability Shahzad Akbar said, “The Supreme Court directed the government to immediately forward the case to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). As per the verdict, further investigations can be made when required by NAB.”

The special adviser said, “The detailed verdict also includes statement pertaining to 16 references which can be filed in the courts of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The government will remove the names of the two PPP leaders as per SC’s orders. However, the names will not be deleted from the JIT report. As per SC’s verdict, NAB may later choose to place the names on the ECL.”
Answering queries, Special Assistant to the PM on Media Iftikhar Durrani said, “Development and non-development budget of Capital Administration and Development has been forwarded to the interior ministry.”

He said the cabinet has also decided to auction 20 airplanes of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research used for spraying.

He said it was also decided to appoint Maj Gen (retd) Amir Azeem as chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority while grade-21 officer Ali Raza Bhatta as secretary of Benazir Income Support Programme.

In an informal discussion after the press conference, Durrani said, “An Economic Reforms Package instead of a ‘mini budget’ will be presented on January 23. The step is being taken to ensure ease of doing business. The package will in no way affect the common man.”