Aleema Khan
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the removal of Aleema Khan, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, and PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan from the Passport Control List (PCL) and the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). The decision marks a significant development in the ongoing legal proceedings involving senior PTI members.
Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro presided over the hearing of Aleema Khan’s petition. While directing the relevant authorities to remove her name from the PCL and PNIL, the court advised her to approach the trial court to seek formal permission for any intended international travel. Aleema Khan was represented in court by a legal team comprising Advocates Ali Bukhari, Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry, and Niazullah Niazi.
In a separate but related ruling, Justice Inam Amin Minhas heard the petition of PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan and declared the inclusion of his name on the PCL to be both illegal and mala fide. The court issued a directive for the immediate removal of Hasan’s name from the list and similarly instructed him to approach the trial court for travel clearance.
Hasan’s counsel informed the court that his client is a cancer survivor who must undergo routine medical check-ups in the United Kingdom every six months. The lawyer argued that the placement of his name on the PCL lacked legal justification and was a violation of his rights. The IHC took note of these medical grounds while also highlighting significant procedural lapses in the process.
According to the court’s findings, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) recommended the inclusion of Hasan’s name on the PCL on July 24, 2024.
However, the Director General of Immigration and Passports proceeded to add his name on August 26 without securing mandatory approval from the federal government. The court emphasized that under the Passport Rules, only the federal government holds the authority to regulate an individual’s travel by placing them on such lists.
The IHC also stated that a person cannot be placed on the PCL solely on the basis of a pending criminal case or ongoing investigation. Such a move, the court declared, is inconsistent with the legal provisions governing international travel restrictions.
Raoof Hasan is currently on bail in a case filed by the FIA under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), and the court confirmed that the state has not filed any petition to cancel his bail. It was also noted that Hasan had previously been taken into FIA custody for seven days—initially placed on a two-day physical remand, followed by a three-day extension, and then a further two-day remand for additional investigation.
After the completion of his 14-day judicial remand, Hasan was transferred to Adiala Jail. However, on the same day, he was also taken into custody in connection with a separate terrorism-related case, further complicating his legal troubles.
The IHC’s orders in both cases underscore the importance of adherence to due process and the limitations of administrative power in restricting fundamental rights, particularly the right to travel.
