Tells former PM to approach trial courts for exemption from hearing, permission to travel abroad
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday rejected the petition of former prime minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
An IHC division bench, headed by Chief Justice Athar Minallah and comprising Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani, announced the seven-page judgement which had been reserved on the last hearing.
The order read that several graft cases against former premier Ashraf were pending in different trial courts.
The trial courts were the suitable forum to grant exemption from hearing to the accused person, it added.
The decision stated, “The federal government had said in its reply that it had no objection if the trial court allowed the former prime minister to go abroad on a visit.”
The IHC asked the petitioner to approach the trial courts to seek exemption from hearing and permission to travel abroad.
It may be mentioned here that several corruption cases pertaining to rental power projects and Nandipur Power Project were under process against Ashraf in the accountability courts in Islamabad and Lahore.
Ashraf had challenged his name on ECL before IHC and sought permission to travel abroad to participate in a conference.
An accountability court in Islamabad had already granted exemption from hearing to the accused.
However, an accountability court in Lahore had issued arrest warrants against Ashraf for continuous disappearance from the proceedings.
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