The Islamabad High Court has resolved the contempt petition filed by former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Shireen Mazari after the government took steps to remove her name from the Exit Control List.
Initially, despite a previous court directive, the Interior Ministry had not promptly removed Mazari’s name from the ECL. The contempt case was presided over by Justice Saman Raffat Imtiaz.
During the hearing, Mazari was accompanied by her legal counsel, while Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Duggal and a representative from the Interior Ministry were also present.
The Additional Attorney General presented a report from the Interior Ministry confirming that Mazari’s name had indeed been taken off the ECL. He informed the court that Mazari’s inclusion on the ECL had been authorized by the Cabinet but had now been rescinded.
In response, Mazari’s lawyer acknowledged the removal from the ECL but expressed concerns that her name might have been listed elsewhere. They clarified that they were not seeking any specific directives from the court regarding this matter.
Earlier, on April 4, the Islamabad High Court had instructed the Interior Ministry to remove Mazari’s name from the ECL. Subsequently, on December 1, 2023, the court had also directed the removal of Mazari’s name from the Passport Control List.
Mazari’s inclusion on the Passport Control List stemmed from incidents following violent protests on May 9, 2023, based on recommendations from the Islamabad Police.
The court’s disposal of Mazari’s contempt petition signifies a resolution to the legal dispute surrounding her status on the ECL, reflecting adherence to judicial directives and procedural transparency in governmental actions regarding travel restrictions.
