Zulfi Bukhari's name to be removed from ECL, IHC rules

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has given orders on Wednesday to remove the name of prime minister’s aide Syed Zulfi Bukhari from the Exit Control List (ECL).

According to details, a two-judge bench comprising Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani announced the reserved verdict today on the petition of Zulfi Bukhari seeking his removal from the ECL.

In a plea, filed through his lawyer, Mr. Bukhari had argued that his fundamental rights were being affected due to travel ban.

Zufli Bukhari was appointed the prime minister’s special assistant on overseas Pakistanis and human resource development on September 18.

At the time of his appointment, Bukhari was being investigated by the National Accountability Bureau in connection with establishing offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporter, Bukhari, was embroiled in a controversy when he was stopped from flying to Saudi Arabia with the PTI chief only to be granted a one-time permission later to perform Umrah and return in six days. Afterwards, Bukhari was placed on the Exit Control List.

The PM’s assistant then approached the Islamabad High Court seeking removal of his name from the ECL.

The PTI leader is facing another case in the Supreme Court, where his appointment as premier’s aide was challenged owing to his dual nationality.