Major changes in procedure for inclusion or exclusion of names from ECL on the cards

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf-led government has decided to bring major amendments to the procedure for inclusion or removal of names from the Exit Control List (ECL), ARY News reported.  

As per details, the Ministry of Interior has readied its recommendations which will likely be presented to Parliament’s relevant standing committee which is scheduled to meet tomorrow.

The ministry has recommended that name of a person be added or removed from the no-fly list following directives of the Supreme Court or any trial court.

The power to include or delete any person’s name from the ECL should rest with the interior secretary instead of the competent authority, according to the recommendations.

Name of any person against whom charges are at an initial or inquiry stage will not be placed on the ECL. Besides, the names already included to the no-fly list without directives of any court of law will be struck off.

On Oct 19, a petition was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) challenging the powers of the federal cabinet regarding induction or exclusion of names from the Exit Control List (ECL).

The federal government through the prime minister’s principal secretary, interior minister, NAB chairman and other officials concerned have been named respondents in the petition.

According to the law, the interior secretary has the right to place or remove name of a person from the ECL, argued the petitioner.

He further contended that previously names were not included or excluded from the ECL even on court orders, which made the ECL procedure further complicated.