Court to hear Shehbaz Sharif’s petition seeking removal of his name from ECL today

F.P. Report

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday (today) will hear the Shehbaz Sharif petition seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).

According to reports, a two-member bench of LHC comprising Justice Shehzad Ahmed Khan and Justice Mirza Waqas Rauf will take up the case.

Earlier on March 4, the LHC had sought a reply from the federal government and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) over placement of Shehbaz Sharif’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL).

On February 28, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif had challenged placing his name on the ECL in the Lahore High Court.

Defense counsel in his arguments said, someone’s name cannot be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) only on assumptions as it is the violation of the basic rights.

Shehbaz’s counsel pleaded the court to annul the notification placing his client’s name on the ECL as he wants to fly to the United Kingdom to see-off his ailing granddaughter.

“NAB failed to prove charges of financial irregularities in Ramzan Sugar Mills and Ashiana Housing scam,” Sharif had stated in his plea.

He further added that the court granted him bail after provision of evidence of his innocence.

His name was put on the ECL following approval of the federal cabinet on recommendations of the anti-graft watchdog.