Zartaj Gul wants her name removed from ECL to perform Hajj

ISLAMABAD: Former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader has approached the Islamabad High Court (IHC) seeking the removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL) to perform Hajj.

The IHC has issued a notice to the Interior Secretary, seeking his response in this matter. Subsequently, Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri issued a written hearing order on Zartaj Gul’s plea and appointed a senior officer from the Federal Interior Secretary’s office to assist the court.

The designated officer is required to appear in court at the next hearing with relevant records and a comprehensive understanding of the case.

The court’s order noted that, as per the petitioner’s lawyer, Zartaj Gul is facing legal proceedings following the registration of several cases against him. However, the lawyer emphasized that Gul is not a fugitive in any case and has obtained bail.

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The petition argues that there is no legal or moral justification for imposing travel restrictions on Zartaj Gul by including his name in the ECL, No-Fly List, or PNIL (Provisional National Identification List). It further highlights that a previous request made in March to remove his name from the PNIL went unanswered. It’s worth recalling that a few months ago, the Federal Ministry of Interior had placed Zartaj Gul’s name on the ECL on various charges, including the May 9 case. INP