LHC summons replies on Elahi's PCL plea

Lahore High Court Justice Shams Mehmood Mirza sought replies from the quarters concerned on different pleas filed by former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervez Elahi, as well as his son and daughter-in-law who sought court orders to remove their names from the Passport Control List (PCL).

As proceedings commenced, the petitioner's lawyer argued that petitioner Elahi wanted to perform Umrah from September 20 to October 5 and then wanted to visit the UK, but he and his family's names were put on the PCL, owing to which they could not fly.

"It is tantamount to deprive the fundamental rights of the petitioners," the lawyer stated. He requested the court to pass directions to the quarters concerned to remove their names from PCL.

Petitioners Pervez Elahi, his son Rasikh Elahi and Zahra Elahi (wife of Rasikh Elahi) filed their separate petitions in LHC, naming the Federation of Pakistan as a respondent, through the secretary of the ministry of interior, and Federal Investigation Agency through its director general in Islamabad, the Federal Investigation Agency through its director in Lahore, as well as the Passport and Immigration Department through its director general Islamabad.

Petitioner Elahi contended in his petition that he, along with his family, intends to visit the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform their religious duty of Umrah. He found out that his name, without any lawful justification or reason, has been placed on the PCL by state authorities.

"Such an arbitrary and unlawful placement of the name of the petitioner on the PCL is an unfortunate and clear case of political victimisation.

The petitioner filed an application for removal of his name from the PCL before the respondent Federation of Pakistan through the secretary of the ministry of interior, but there has been no progress from the other end.

The petitioners prayed the court declare the placement of their names on the PCL as illegal and unlawful.