RECORDER REPORT

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday reserved its verdict in a petition of Syed Ali Musa Gilani, son of former primer Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani, seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

Ali Musa’s counsel, Barrister Salman Safdar, informed the court that his name was put on the ECL on the basis of mere allegations.

He said the Supreme Court had granted bail to the petitioner in the said case and had not issued any directions to put the name of petitioner on the ECL. The counsel pointed out that the petitioner previously visited abroad with the court’s permission and returned as per his undertaking.

He alleged that the interim government had put his name on the ECL after nurturing a grudge as he and his father were criticising it over kidnapping of his brother, Ali Haider Gilani.

Barrister Safdar said the petitioner was unable to travel abroad for educational and business purposes due to his name on the ECL. He asked the court to issue directions to the interior ministry to immediately remove the name of petitioner from the ECL.

A law officer of the interior ministry told the court that the petitioner could flee the country if his name was removed from the ECL. He said the petitioner was facing trial in Ephedrine case. The court, after hearing the arguments at length, reserved the verdict.