PTI leader's name 'mistakenly' put on PCL

Passport authority tenders an apology to the IHC

ISLAMABAD:

The country's passport authority has tendered an apology to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for "mistakenly" placing the name of PTI leader and noted lawyer Shoab Shaheen on the Passport Control List (PCL).

IHC's single-member bench comprising Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir on Friday took up a petition filed by Shaheen against authorities' decision to impose restrictions on his travel abroad.

During the hearing, Shaheen appeared in person before the court and argued that his name was initially placed on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). He said the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) removed his name from the list on a court order. "However, my name was later added to the PCL as an act of political retaliation," he said.

An FIA representative informed the court that Shaheen's name was not placed on any list by their agency. Meanwhile, a representative of the Passport Office said his name was mistakenly added to the PCL, but the error has now been rectified.

Extending an apology, he said Shoaib Shaheen's passport had been reactivated. Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir remarked that re-adding the name to any list in the future would constitute contempt of court. The hearing was then adjourned until January 13.