The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered to remove the name of former Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry's son-in-law from the Exit Control List (ECL). While briefing the media persons, Federal Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry on September 26 had stated that the son-in-law of former chief justice, Murtaza Amjad, was arrested from Dubai in Eden Housing Limited (EHL) case.
Murtaza Amjad had filed a review petition through his wife Irfah Murtaza before the apex court under the Article 188 of Constitution. Murtaza is currently detained in Dubai. The petition said that Murtaza Amjad remained a director of EHL from 2007 till 2009, but now he has nothing to do with the EHL. The apex court on 03-06-18 had directed the Ministry of Interior to place his [Murtaza] name on the ECL.
Hamid Khan, representing the petitioner, told a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar, that his client was affected by the order and on the basis of that his red warrants were issued. He, therefore, requested the court to withdraw its order passed in June 2018. He said the court had passed the order without issuing notice to Amjad. He was coming to see his wife on September 26 when he was detained at Dubai airport, the petition said.
The Chief Justice said they had not given direction to issue red warrants to bring back Murtaza Amjad, adding on the request of NAB, the court directed the Ministry of Interior to put his [Murtaza's] name on the ECL.
The Chief Justice said he [Murtaza] should appear before the court and get the bail and for this they pass an appropriate order, saying; "Let the petitioner appear before the court." The NAB has estimated the property seized from the Eden Group to be worth up to Rs 20 billion. The Bureau has claimed that it would compensate the affectees soon.
According to the information minister, Dr Amjad and his two sons including Murtaza had managed to flee the country in April last and traveled to Canada as the Interior Ministry did not put their names on the ECL despite a request by the NAB.
He further claimed that Chaudhry's daughter got married to the son of Eden Housing Society's owner at a time when her father, then chief justice of the country, was hearing a case regarding alleged irregularities in the housing scheme.
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