PESHAWAR: The Peshawar High Court on Thursday on Thursday ordered removal of the name of former National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser from the Exit Control List (ECL), terming the act unconstitutional and against the law.
After reviewing the case, the High Court declared placing Qaiser’s name on the ECL as unconstitutional and illegal.
The PTI leader’s counsel argued that Qaiser’s name was unfairly added to the ECL and he was barred from leaving for Umrah by officials.
The lawyer added that Qaiser was recently again elected to the National Assembly and is a senior politician.
On June 23, 2023, Asad Qaiser, a leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, was reportedly stopped from traveling for Umrah pilgrimage as his name appeared on the ECL. Challenging this decision, Qaiser filed a petition with the Peshawar High Court, arguing that his inclusion on the list was unconstitutional and illegal.
Earlier in January, the PHC barred the inclusion of former lawmakers from PTI in the fourth schedule.
An individual is placed in the fourth schedule under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997 when there is credible intelligence-information against him of being linked to a proscribed organisation. The person is then subjected to restrictions on travel, speech and business.
The list of individuals who were recommended for inclusion in the fourth schedule included former Speaker Asad Qaiser, along with former members Amjad Ali, Gul Zafar, Iftikhar Mashwani, Mian Sharifat Ali, Abdul Salam, Zaher Shah, Fazal Hakim, and others.
