Interior ministry says Ayyan’s name not on ECL

Supermodel released on bail last week faces money laundering charges

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior revealed on Wednesday that the government has not placed name of supermodel Ayyan, who was released on bail from Adiala Jail last week in a money laundering case, on the Exit Control List (ECL).

“Model Ayyan’s name had not been placed on the ECL as under the new procedure, any name could only be included in the ECL after recommendation by a court of law or the concerned investigating department,” stated an official statement issued by the ministry.

The ministry spokesman further clarified that no one would be allowed to use the ECL laws for personal, political and financial disputes, it added.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan also ordered interior ministry officials to immediately remove names of family members of Ahmed Raza Kasuri from the ECL, said a spokesman of the Interior Ministry.

Taking strong note of off-loading Kasuri’s daughter and grandchildren from a Bangkok-bound plane, Nisar has ordered to hold an inquiry into the matter as to why the ECL laws were misused despite clear directives that these could not be applied in matters relating to family disputes, he added.

The interior minister has ordered to return the passports of the members of Kasuri family and their names be removed from the ECL immediately, the spokesman said.

According to him Nisar has also asked the ministry officials to apologise with Ahmed Raza Kasuri and ordered to suspend the officer who had placed the names of Kasuri family on the ECL.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 23^rd, 2015.