SHC directs counsel to file comments on Dr Asim’s plea on ECL

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Monday directed the federal law officer to file comments on the application of former federal minister Dr Asim Hussain seeking return of passport and deletion of his name from the Exit Control List.

Dr Asim Hussain, who was released on bail in two National Accountability Bureau’s Rs.470 billion corruption references on March 29, submitted that he was suffering various ailments and required orthopaedic spinal surgery whose facility was not available in Pakistan. He submitted that his name was placed on the ECL, which was contrary to the law as he wanted to travel abroad for medical treatment and requested the court to delete his name from the ECL. He submitted that the passport of the applicant was also lying at the SHC Nazir on the direction of SHC and the same may also be directed to return to the applicant so that he could travel abroad.

It is pertinent to mention that the SHC had granted bail to Dr Asim Hussain in Rs470 billion corruption cases on medical grounds but directed the interior ministry to place the name of Dr Asim on ECL. SHC’s division bench headed by Justice Mohammad Junaid Ghaffar directed federal law officer to file comments on the application on April 25.

Meanwhile, the Sindh High Court on Monday extended interim pre-arrest bail to former information minister Sharjeel Inam Memon in the National Accountability Bureau’s Rs50 billion corruption reference and land allotment investigation till May 2. The court also directed the FIA to file comments on the petition of former information minister against placement of his name in the ECL. The court directed the office to separate the bail before arrest and the ECL petitions and fixed the case as per roaster.