Shehbaz withdraws plea for enforcing LHC order

Tells court that he now intends to challenge the decision to place his name on ECL

LAHORE:

National Assembly Leader of Opposition Shehbaz Sharif has withdrawn a petition he had filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) last week to get the LHC’s May 7 order implemented.

LHC’s Justice Syed Ali Baqar Najafi on May 7 ordered authorities to remove Shehbaz’s name from a black list and allowed him to go abroad for medical treatment.

The immigration authorities, however, stopped the PML-N president from boarding a Doha-bound flight on May 8, contending that his name was still on the provincial identification list (PNIL).

On May 17, the government put Shehbaz’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL) while also moving the top court against the LHC’s May 7 order.

Read more: Shehbaz Sharif's name placed on ECL

“With the approval of the cabinet and [after] completion of legal formalities, the name of PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif has been put on the EC and the relevant record has been updated in this regard,” Minister for Information Fawad Chaudhry had said in a social media post.

On the same day, the PML-N, also filed a petition in the LHC, seeking contempt proceedings against the officials who on May 8 stopped Shehbaz from taking a flight despite the court order.

At the last hearing of Shehbaz’s petition, Justice Najafi on May 19 asked the federal government to explain by May 26 under what circumstances the LHC’s court was not implemented.

But on Saturday, Shehbaz through his counsels – Azam Nazir Tarar and Amjad Pervez – filed an application seeking withdrawal of the petition.

Also read: LHC orders removal of Shehbaz's name from blacklist, allows him to fly abroad

It noted that the federal government put Shehbaz’s name on the ECL via a memorandum dated May 17 and due to the issuance of the memorandum the instant petition might not proceed in its present form.

“Reserving his right to seek initiation of contempt proceedings against the delinquents, the petitioner intends to challenge and seek appropriate remedy against the above said memorandum.

“In view of the submissions made above, it is humbly prayed that the above noted main petition along with all Civil Miscellaneous Applications be kindly allowed to be withdrawn with the permission to the petitioner to challenge and seek appropriate remedy in accordance with law,” it added.