The government on Thursday decided to remove the name of former president General Pervez Musharraf (retd) from Exit Control List (ECL), allowing him to travel abroad to seek medical treatment, saying the decision was taken in the light of a Supreme Court verdict.
Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan told a press conference on Thursday the government has decided to remove Pervez Musharraf's name from ECL in the light of apex court's decision.
"Today, the legal team of Pervez Musharraf has formally submitted an application with Ministry of Interior requesting it to remove his name from ECL," he said, adding that following Musharraf's lawyers' application, the government after thorough consultation decided to remove Musharraf's name from ECL.
To a question, he said "we took this decision after due consultation with Prime Minister as well as with the legal team, adding that there was no pressure on us from any side in this regard."
"This should be clear that neither anybody approached us nor was there any pressure to take such decision," the minister said. He said these kinds of decisions often take place in every democratic country.
The Minister without naming the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), asked why those who are criticizing the present government did not initiate a single case against Musharraf during their five years of rule. "A group will criticize the government for allowing Musharraf go abroad and the same group will also criticize the government if he [Musharraf] was not allowed," he said.
He further said that those who gave a safe passage to Musharraf and offered him a guard of honour are now criticizing the government.
He said the present government has initiated a treason case against Musharraf and opposed in courts his requests through which he had sought to travel abroad.
Khan said that Musharraf had attacked the courts and the judiciary and the government. The Supreme Court had left it up to the government to make decisions on whether his movement should be restricted, he added.
He said the Ministry of Interior places names on ECL following the direction of FIA, NAB and superior judiciary. "During the last two and half years the government did not place a single name on ECL," he said.
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