LAHORE:
Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials on Saturday stopped the Balochistan chief of the Jamhoori Watan Party (JWP) Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti and his family from boarding a flight to Singapore at Lahore airport.
Shahzain, who is the grandson of the late Nawab Akbar Bugti, was on his way to Singapore via Tashkent Airlines with his mother, wife and children. He said he was taking his mother to Singapore for an operation, which was to be carried out in four days. The flight, scheduled to take off at 2:30pm, was delayed as a result of the incident.
Placed on the ECL
Sources told The Express Tribune that Shahzain had been stopped because his name was on the Exit Control List (ECL).
Shahzain, however, said Interior Minister Rehman Malik had informed him in 2009 that his name had been removed from the ECL and his, and his family’s, bank accounts had been unfrozen.
He said on previous occasions he had been informed of his name being on the ECL through the media and in writing, but he was not aware of it this time. The JWP leader said he travelled to Thailand in March 2010 without any difficulties. Sources also added that an argument took place between Shahzain and the officials.
He said FIA officials told him that the family’s passports will not be returned and he will be informed in writing. The passports were eventually returned with cancellation stamps on all of them, said Shahzain, protesting that it was ‘inhumane’ of the present government to not allow them to go for his mother’s treatment.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2011.
COMMENTS (19)
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@h ansari Dear readers, Mr. Ansari is right Dera Bughti is now Singapore, but just for Bughti's immediate family members. We have not only one Ansari there are many many and this leads Zardar or Sharief our Head of State.
@Moise: yar because there is no such airline or as the reporter says Tashkent Airlines...
Have any of you guys heard him speak against Pakistan ? The amount of money they have received from the government they could have converted Dera Bugti into a Singapore. So sad they have no vision.
Forget about Exit control. All of these with personal Army should be on Enter Control. Lets Clean-up this country of the prehistoric barberic thinking. Support Bilal about his Comment.
All the comments above askign why he cant leave the country??
This is the same guy who was found carrying a platoon's load of armament (including rockets and anti arcraft guns) only six months ago, comign from Chaman. And you guys say he shouldnt be on the ECL? Get a reality check.
@Max: @Imran: If you remember he was apprehendid with truck loads of heavy weapons near Quetta recently. He is on bail (bail is not usually granted in such situations)by the High Court.
Buzkushi a game played with carcass of a young sheep. Has been replaced by playing with a live person.
Let him go where ever he wants to don't make a hero out of zero.
Yesterday log of flights to Singapore. No airline of that name. Something fishy.
@Leader: I am unable to find it too.
@Rahim: Davis was flown out of Pakistan via a special plane that was not subject to FIA's approval or disapproval. They had no jurisdiction over him. If you know what I mean.
hi well i think to stop her mother from getting the medical aide she needs is criminal! and sad some alternate position must be opted blocking or not blocking an individual from leaving the country can not be tied to someones basic human right to get treated ! would these agencies get a bit saner for heaven sakes !
Pakistani state need to lighten up. This is too much. He cannot travel out of country because he is grandson of late politician. Give me a break.
Media before publish this news should also contact the authorities to take their view so the readers could understand the whole story why Bughti os not allowed to leave Pakistan.
by the way can anyone confirm if there is some airline with the name Tashkent airline or as it says Tashkent Airlines? I googled but couldnot find....
FIA only stops those who they want to, how come Raymond Davis who was on ECL was not stopped from leaving the country? This is just a political stunt.
Yep! Implementing the Balochistan package arnt we?
And why was his name on ECL? Another act of "patriotism" by the ISI?
I wonder whats the source of income of these bugti people living lavish life style while a common baloch is suffering.