The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Monday directed the Interior Ministry to submit implementation report regarding a case pertaining to placement of name of General Asad Durrani (retd) on Exit Control List (ECL). Justice Mohsin Akhter Kiyani conducted the hearing on a petition filed by former general seeking contempt of court proceedings against Interior Ministry for not removing his name from the ECL.
During the course of proceedings, the bench asked why the court orders have not been implemented so far. It would not be good if a contempt of court notice is served on the secretary interior, he said. Durrani's lawyer pleaded that neither his client's name was removed from the ECL since this court order, dated February 27, 2019, nor the quarters concerned have given any update over the issue.
The court directed the ministry to submit implementation report of the court order and adjourned the hearing of the case till November 8. Former director-general Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Asad Durrani had filed a contempt of court case against the secretary interior for failing to follow court orders in a petition seeking the removal of his name from the Exit Control List.
He filed a petition against Major Azam Suleman Khan (retd) in the Islamabad High Court in June 2019. On February 27, 2019, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kiyani had given the secretary a month to make a decision on the removal of Durrani's name from the no-fly list, the petition says. He was supposed to make a decision by March 27 but he didn't, it adds.
Contempt proceedings should be initiated against the secretary for failing to follow the orders, according to the petition. Durrani's name was put on the ECL on May 29, 2018 following the Pakistan Army's request to impose a travel ban on him. The decision was taken a day after Durrani visited General Headquarters (GHQ) to explain his stance on his controversial book 'The Spy Chronicles.' The book was co-authored by Durrani and former chief of Indian spy agency RAW Amarjit Singh Dulat.
On February 22, 2018, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Major General Asif Ghafoor had said that Durrani was found guilty of violating the military code of conduct. A court of inquiry was also ordered against him.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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