LHC judges hearing Maryam's ECL plea won't be available for Dec 26 hearing

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) bench seized with the hearing of PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz’s petition seeking removal of her name from the no-fly list won’t be available for the next hearing slated for Dec 26, reported ARY News.

Justice Ali Baqir Najafi, who heads the division bench, has gone on winter vacation, whereas Justice Anwarul Haq, a member of the bench, too won’t be available during this period.

No special bench has been formed yet to take up the petition of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s daughter on the scheduled date in absence of these judges. The case may likely be referred to the benches hearing urgent cases or adjourned until after the vacation.

Earlier, on Dec 23, the bench had adjourned the plea of Maryam Nawaz seeking to remove her name from the Exit Control List (ECL) till December 26.

Amjad Pervez in his arguments had said the name of her client was placed on the ECL without affording her an opportunity of a fair hearing.

The counsel had said the ruling PTI, being a rival of the PML-N, will not allow Maryam to fly to London as some federal ministers too are openly saying that they will not allow her to go out of the country.

The federal cabinet a day earlier decided not to remove her name from the no-fly list. The federal cabinet during its today’s session held under the chair of Prime Minister Imran Khan decided not to remove Maryam Nawaz’s name from the ECL while approving the recommendation forwarded by the sub-committee in this regard.

Sources said PM Khan sought recommendation from members over the decision of the cabinet sub-committee which opposed the removal of her name from the list. The cabinet members unanimously voted in favour of the sub-committee’s decision.