People on ECL can't go abroad without permission from Interior Ministry: SC

The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the federal government to ensure that people on the Exit Control List (ECL) do not travel abroad without permission from the Interior Ministry as it resumed its suo motu hearing into "perceived interference" by "persons in authority" in criminal investigations.

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial headed the five-judge larger Supreme Court bench comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar.

During the last hearing on June 3, the apex court had instructed the coalition government to bring the recent changes in the rules of the ECL within the "ambit of the law" within a week, warning that it would issue an order otherwise.

On April 22, the government introduced significant changes to the rules controlling citizens' exit from the country in an attempt to end the practice of keeping people on the no-fly list for years and even for over a decade.

During the hearing today, Additional Attorney General (AAG) Chaudhry Aamir Rehman told the bench that after the court's previous hearing, a meeting was held in the attorney general's office which was attended by all stakeholders.

"A cabinet committee meeting on ECL rules was also held yesterday," he continued, saying that all the observations and questions of the top court were put forward in it.

Here, Justice Mazhar inquired about the meeting's minutes. "They will be available within a day or two," Rehman replied, adding that the cabinet had also summoned the attorney general.

The office of the attorney general, he went on, has formulated SOPs regarding amendments in the ECL rules and has sent them to all the stakeholders. "All the names struck off the list will be reviewed again one by one."

Subsequently, Justice Ahsan asked what would happen to the names that have already been removed from the list and amendments that have already been made.

"New rules will be made after consultation with the National Accountability Bureau and the Federal Investigation Agency," the AAG replied.

Meanwhile, Justice Bandial wondered how the people who were "beneficiaries" could amend the rules. He ruled that people whose names were on the ECL would not be allowed to travel abroad without permission from the Interior Ministry.

"Only those leaving for some governmentrelated work should be allowed," he added.

Responding to the CJ's instructions, Rehman assured the court that until the government completed the law-making process, these orders would be followed.

'People in power benefitted from amendments to ECP rules'

At one point during the hearing, Justice Bandial brought up the question of people in power benefitting from amendments made to the ECP rules.

He stressed that the rule of law was important and there should be "no compromise" on the usual procedure for people whose cases were pending.