Musharraf ECL case: Govt submits rejoinder to SHC decision in SC

Govt maintains the apex court must not eliminate Musharraf’s name from ECL

ISLAMABAD: Refuting rumours of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif caving in to pressure to allow former president Pervez Musharraf safe passage out of the country, the federal government on Monday submitted a rejoinder to the Sindh High Court’s decision to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL), Express News reported.

A five-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk is hearing the federal government’s appeal against the Sindh High Court’s June 12 order.

Following the appeal, the apex court hearing the case suspended the SHC’s decision on June 23 and adjourned the hearing for four weeks. However, another hearing of the case could not take place, leaving the decision of the former president’s exit from the country pending.

In a response submitted today, prior to the hearing of the case scheduled for October 1, the federal government maintained that the apex court must not eliminate Musharraf’s name from the ECL.

“The Supreme Court’s verdict against Musharraf is also available,” the reply said, asserting that cases are pending against Musharraf and once allowed to leave, he will not return to the country.

Further, the letter from the Attorney General of Pakistan's office protested against former president not appearing before the top court during hearings of the cases.

Musharraf is facing four criminal cases including one high treason case, filed by the federal government. Prior to the filing of the government’s complaint, four petitions were filed before the Supreme Court wherein the petitioners had pleaded for a direction to the federal government to prosecute the respondent (Musharraf) under the high treason Act 1973.

The court on April 8, 2013 directed the secretary interior to make sure Musharraf’s name was placed on the ECL. His name had already been placed on the ECL on April 5, 2013 pursuant to the SHC’s March 29, 2013 order, wherein it was directed that Musharraf will not leave the country without permission of the trial court. Later, a division bench of the SHC declined to exclude Musharraf’s name from ECL.