Court removes expat from ECL

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday ordered the removal of overseas Pakistani citizen Hashim Mahmood's name from the Exit Control List (ECL) and directed the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports to process his passport renewal application in accordance with the law.

Justice Muhammad Asif issued the written judgment, clarifying that the decision would not affect the Interpol red notice, extradition proceedings or any action by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB).

According to the judgment, the petitioner's counsel submitted that Mahmood had been residing in the United States since 2017 and held a US visa, an Employment Authorisation Document and a Texas driving licence. His online application for urgent passport renewal had been deferred because his name appeared on the ECL.

The court record showed that an Interpol red notice had been issued against him at the police's request in connection with a case registered at Model Town Police Station in Lahore.

In a report dated August 25, 2026, the Ministry of Interior stated that his name had been placed on the ECL on May 23, 2023, following a NAB recommendation and a federal cabinet decision.