Name off ECL: SHC seeks reply from federal govt, FIA over Musharraf's plea

Musharraf's lawyer says former president wants to meet his ailing mother in Dubai, should be allowed to fly out.


Shezad Baloch/web Desk April 21, 2014
Former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf speaks to the press in Hong Kong on September 15, 2010. PHOTO: AFP

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday issued notices to the federal government and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to respond to former president Pervez Musharraf’s plea for removing his name from the Exit Control List (ECL), Express News reported.

Musharraf’s lawyer Farogh Nasim filed the application earlier today and requested for an early hearing which was granted. In the application, Musharraf had pleaded that not a single court has imposed restriction on his movement and hence he should be allowed to fly abroad.

During the hearing, Nasim argued that the former president wanted to meet his ailing mother in Dubai and should be permitted to travel freely.

The two-member divisional bench consisting of Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Khalid Hussain Bhatti issued notices and sought comments from the interior secretary, director general FIA, director FIA Sindh, additional director FIA Immigration and deputy attorney journal over the issue. The hearing was then adjourned till April 23.

The name of the former president was put on ECL on April 5, 2013 by the interior ministry to ensure Musharraf remained in the country and attended hearings of all the cases he was involved in.

On March 31, Musharraf was formally charged for subverting and circumventing the Constitution by imposing emergency on November 3, 2007. Musharraf had rejected the charges levelled against him.

Apart from the high treason case, Musharraf was also named as an accused in the Benazir Bhutto and Akbar Bugti murder cases.

Bugti murder case

Anti Terrorism Court (ATC) Quetta Judge Tariq Anwar Kasi, dissatisfied over the absence of former military ruler (retd) General Pervez Musharraf, ordered Musharraf’s lawyer to ensure his presence in court for the next hearing of Nawab Akbar Bugti’s murder case scheduled on May 19.

The previously issued arrest warrants for Musharraf’s two guarantors, Mumtaz Hussain and Nazeer Ahmed, were cancelled by the judge during the hearing after they appeared before the court on Monday.

During their appearance in court, they requested to be provided with the opportunity to ensure Musharraf’s presence in the next court hearing.

The court said the former president should ensure his presence in court at the next hearing or face being arrested.

COMMENTS (30)

Mirza | 10 years ago | Reply

Exile him quickly and save a ton of money. The poor country cannot afford such luxuries of active and retired generals. Mush's extended family is already overseas and he would be happy there and far away from Pakistan a la General Iskander Mirza.

Arif | 10 years ago | Reply

Its regretful that an intellectual like him is a Pakistani who is not respected by nation like any other intellectual. He must leave this country on the mercy of corrupt leaders, judiciary and mullahs and enjoy is global respect abroad. Love you Sir!!

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