YouTuber cleared from travel restriction

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the removal of YouTuber Rajab Butt's name from the Passport Control List (PCL).

The court observed that the mere pendency of an inquiry or investigation is not sufficient grounds to impose a travel restriction on any individual. It further noted that the primary purpose of placing a name on the PCL is to ensure the presence of the concerned person before investigating agencies or a court of law.

Once that objective is achieved, the continuation of such a restriction becomes unnecessary and loses legal justification.

Justice Azam Khan of the IHC issued a six-page written judgment allowing the petition for the removal of Rajab Butt's name from the PCL. The ruling stated that, according to the record, the petitioner's name was placed on the PCL at the request of the NCCIA. The Deputy Attorney General informed the court that the NCCIA authorities had no objection to the removal of Rajab Butt's name from the PCL.

The court further held that while the authority to place a person's name on the PCL exists under the Passport Act and Passport Rules, such power is not unlimited and must be exercised in a fair and lawful manner. It emphasised that inclusion on the PCL affects an individual's fundamental right to freedom of movement, and therefore requires strong and substantiated justification.