SC seeks reply from Interior Ministry on Dr Asim's ECL plea

ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court sought on Thursday a reply from the Interior Ministry regarding placing of Dr Asim Hussain’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The three-member bench, headed by Justice Ejaz Afzal Khan, was hearing Dr Asim’s plea to remove his name from the ECL.

The bench observed that it wants to know if names are placed on the ECL on 'likes and dislikes' or if there is a legal procedure for it. 

Pakistan Peoples Party Karachi President Dr Asim — out on bail in cases of corruption and terrorism — has requested the court to allow him to travel out of the country for back surgery.

The bench observed that it wants to have the ministry’s version on record regarding putting Dr Asim’s name on the ‘no-fly list’.

Dr Asim — a former federal minister and close aide of former president Asif Ali Zardari — faces trial in two cases of alleged corruption of over Rs450 billion and another of allegedly facilitating and treating terrorists at his medical facility — Dr Ziauddin Hospital.

He was released from the sub-jail at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in Karachi on March 31 this year after obtaining bail in all the cases lodged against him.

He was initially arrested by the Rangers in August 2015 and then transferred into police custody.