The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday reserved judgement on the petition of social worker Gulalai Ismail, who is seeking removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL). A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Aamer Farooq heard the petition moved by the social worker against secretary interior for putting her name on ECL and reserved the judgement after hearing the arguments of both sides.
During the hearing, a deputy attorney general appeared before the court and adopted that Gulalai is involved in anti-state activities while she is also involved in spreading propaganda against Pakistan Army. He told that all the legal requirements were fulfilled before putting her name on the ECL.
Earlier, Ismail's lawyer Babar Sattar had contended before the court that she was not a member of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM). Moreover, he said the government has not declared PTM as a proscribed outfit.
He added if Ismail's name had been included in the no-fly list because she was believed a PTM member, the government should put the names of all the others who are members of the movement.
The petitioner had moved the petition and sought removal of her name from the no-fly list. The court had already issued notices to secretary interior, director general Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and director general Immigration.
Gulalai Ismail was taken into custody by FIA on October 12 when she returned from the UK. After the arrest, the Interior Ministry had entered her name in the ECL.
Her lawyer contended before the court that putting the name of his client on ECL is totally illegal and in violation of basic human rights. He requested the court to issue orders to the concerned authorities to return travel documents and passport of his client.
The counsel informed the bench that his client has been working on human rights since 2009. He said the FIA arrested Gulalai on October 12 when she landed in Pakistan after her return from UK. She was later released on bail. He added that Gulalai was released from the FIA headquarters in Islamabad but her passport was withheld by the FIA officials.
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