Removal of names from ECL: Ministry turns down applications of Nawaz, Maryam & Safdar

The Ministry of Interior has rejected the applications of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain Muhammad Safdar (retd) that sought removal of their names from the Exit Control List (ECL). Sharif, Maryam and Safdar wrote separate applications to the Ministry of Interior in October last when they were released from Adiala Jail after suspension of their jail terms by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) in Avenfield properties case. The Interior Ministry rejected all the three requests, sources said.
They had referred to the Articles 4, 15 and 25 of the Constitution in their applications sent to the secretary interior challenging their inclusion in the ECL by the federal government. They cited the grounds to prohibit a person leaving Pakistan for abroad as provided in the Rule 2 of the Exit from Pakistan Rules 2010 and argued those are not applicable to them. The y stated they were not involved in any economic crime, act of terrorism or its conspiracy as envisaged by the said rules.
It said that the Accountability Court specifically acquitted the applicants of false charges of corruption for which the NAB could not prove any evidentiary proof. Suspending the said order of the Accountability Court and releasing the applicants on bail, the IHC imposed no restriction on their travelling abroad. Citing the above 'constitutional, legal and factual position' they had requested the review of the order of the government as well as removal of the names of the applicants from the ECL.