Karachi municipal commissioner barred from flying abroad at last minute

Afzal Zaidi scheduled to travel to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines, FIA immigration officials denied him clearance

The Federal Investigation Agency Immigration stopped Karachi Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi from travelling abroad after his name was found on the Exit Control List.

According to sources, Afzal Zaidi was scheduled to travel from Karachi to Istanbul on Turkish Airlines flight TK-709 late Saturday night. However, immigration officials denied him clearance at the counter and offloaded him from the flight due to his inclusion on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Immigration authorities informed him that he could not travel abroad unless his name was removed from the list or he obtained prior permission from a court. Sources added that dozens of officers have been placed on a special watch list due to various allegations, restricting their foreign travel.