SC orders conditional removal of ex-overseas commissioner's name from ECL

LAHORE: Supreme Court of Pakistan on Monday ordered conditional removal of the name of former commissioner of the Punjab Overseas Pakistanis Commission, Afzal Bhatti, from the exit control (ECL) list.

A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar heard the case at Lahore registry.

Director General National Accountability Bureau (NAB), Saleem Shahzad, informed the bench that Rs. 13.5 mln state money has been outstanding against Mr. Afzal Bhatti. He told the bench that Mr. Bhatti was ready to pay five million rupees in the national exchequer.

Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar said, Afzal Bhatti will be free if he pays back Rs. 6.5 million to the national treasury.

The CJP directed that the recovery of the amount should be completed within 10 days and his name be removed from the exit control list.

The Supreme Court had earlier ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to file a reference against Afzal Bhatti over his appointment as Punjab Overseas Pakistanis’ Commissioner.

The bench headed by Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar had passed the orders during hearing on the appointment of Afzal Bhatti, who was also a board member of the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC).

During the hearing, NAB Director General Punjab Saleem Shahzad appeared before the bench and submitted a detailed report regarding Afzal Bhatti’s appointment.

Bhatti had in a hearing had also confessed before the bench that he is not a citizen of Pakistan.