RAWALPINDI, MARCH 06 (ONLINE): Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench has ordered to remove name of former interior minister Sheikh Rashid from Exit Control List (ECL).
A division bench of LHC Rawalpindi bench comprising Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and justice Mirza Waqas Rauf has announced the judgment.
The court has directed the petitioner be not restrained from going abroad.
Sheikh Rashid along with his lawyers Sardar Abdul Razzaq and Sardar Shehbaz Khan were present in the court. Additional interior secretary and NAB prosecutor appeared in the court. The counsel for the petitioner told the court interior secretary did not appear despite being summoned by the court. The court inquired from additional interior secretary where is interior secretary.
Additional interior secretary told the court he could not appear being pre-occupied in Supreme Court. The court questioned why the name of petitioner has been put in ECL. Additional interior secretary told the court NAB had recommended to put name of Sheikh Rashid in ECL in Al-Qadir trust, financial scandal of 190 million pounds.
NAB prosecutor told the court as Sheikh Rashid was part of federal cabinet , therefore, name of Sheikh Rashid was included in the investigation into scandal. However NAB had removed name of Sheikh Rashid from the list of accused persons after investigation.
The court inquired if the petitioner is not wanted in the case then who put his name in ECL.
The court while expressing resentment over additional interior secretary remarked we are giving 2 hours time to you. You should file detailed report in this regard otherwise action would be taken against you. The court announced interval till 2 p,m in the proceedings.
On not appearing interior secretary after interval the court ordered to remove name of Sheikh Rashid from ECL.
The court wrapped up the petition besides remarking the petitioner be not stopped from going abroad
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