Former president Pervez Musharraf. PHOTO: AFP
Confusion prevailed over whether former president Gen Pervez Musharraf’s name has been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), thus barring him from leaving the country.
Officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday said that his name had in fact been placed on the ECL, and that all airports had been informed of the decision. However, an official at the Ministry of Interior denied this, saying, “It requires a direct order from a court of law to put a name on the ECL and we have not received such an order.”
On Friday, the Sindh High Court (SHC) had directed Musharraf not to leave the country while extending his pre-arrest bail in a number of cases. The interior ministry official insisted that they had not received the written court orders as yet.
An FIA official, on the other hand, confirmed that the agency had in fact received a written order from the interior ministry clearly stating that the former army chief’s name was placed on the ECL.
The SHC, in its order, barred Musharraf from leaving the country and directed the FIA to ensure compliance of court orders in this regard. Interior Secretary Siddiq Akbar was not available to comment on the matter.
Ahsan Iqbal wants Musharraf tried for treason
Meanwhile, PML-N’s Deputy General Secretary Ahsan Iqbal asked the Supreme Court to direct concerned authorities to lodge an FIR against Musharraf due to his imposition of state of emergency in 2007. Speaking at a press conference outside his party’s Model Town office, Iqbal said that Musharraf should be tried for high treason under Article 6 for having abrogated the constitution.
Iqbal said that Musharraf had attacked the Supreme Court and arrested judges while in power and that he was solely responsible for the abysmal state of law and order in the country. He went on to say that the former president’s policies had placed the Pakistan Army in danger and that Army personnel have stopped appearing in public in their uniforms. He said that the Army should ask Musharraf why he humiliated and degraded the institution with his policies.
Iqbal said that if fake degree holders are going to be held accountable, then law breakers like Musharraf should also be brought to the court of justice, adding that all of Musharraf’s cases are currently subjudice.
He said that due to the party’s tight schedule over ticket issues, rumours have spread that the PML-N has compromised or cut a deal on Musharraf’s return. He said that his press conference should dispel this rumour, and demanded that the SC lodge an FIR against Musharraf for imposing emergency and confining judges.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 31st, 2013.
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He is the man who will lead the spiritual army before the Arrival of the Mehdi. He is blessed. ECL or no ECL he is above these concepts. He came with his own will, at the timing of his own choosing. He is a strategist who will be sitting at the top if not in this election perhaps in the next for which we won't have to wait for 5 years.
Best of BAD Luck Musharraf. People want you in Jail Immediately.