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Business Recorder
2 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
DG NAB Lahore listens to public complaints
LAHORE: The Director General (DG) NAB Lahore, Muhammad Ahtram Dar, convened a monthly open hearing session in NAB Lahore which was participated by hundreds of victims affected by Ponzi (investment) schemes and illegal housing societies. The forum witnessed aggrieved complainants of Future Vision scam, Al-Rehman Garden Phase-4, Omega Housing Society, New Lahore City, Khayaban-e-Amin Housing Society, Formanities Housing Society, Elite Town Housing Society, and Grand Avenue Housing Society. DG NAB Lahore attentively listened to all public grievances and issued prompt directives for their resolution. Responding to the complainants of Future Vision scandal, DG NAB ordered an immediate direct inquiry and instructed the initiation of proceedings to place the prime accused on Exit Control List (ECL) along with publication of advertisements in national dailies. Regarding the complaints against Al-Rehman Garden (Phase-4) management, the DG NAB allotted one month deadline to investigation team for bringing conclusion of the case and to submit a comprehensive report. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Blocking of passports: officials pass buck to interior ministry
Passports of thousands of people across Punjab have been blocked for the last 2 years due to their suspected participation in May 9, 2023 rioting incidents — leading to cancellation of their international trips including pilgrimage to Makkah. Interestingly, geo fencing was used to identify the alleged rioters active in a particular area on May 9 and May 10 of 2023. As a result, dozens of people — including employees of government and private organizations, whose workplaces were located in those localities and who used phones during rioting — faced blacklisting of passports. A number of these people came to know that their passports have been blocked only when they arrived at the airport to fly to foreign destinations or went to the passport office for renewal of their documents. Dozens of such people have now approached the Lahore High Court (LHC). While hearing these petitions, the LHC has summoned passport officials along with records. In many of these cases, passport authorities have already submitted records to the court showing that the passports have been blacklisted. The Passport and Immigration Department told the LHC that the task of blacklisting passports does not fall under their jurisdiction and that the Ministry of Interior includes and removes names from the blacklist and the Exit Control List (ECL). They claimed that the names of the petitioners were added to the blacklist due to their alleged involvement in May 9 incidents. Those individuals whose names are on the blacklist or whose passports have expired cannot renew their document until their names are removed from the blacklist. Violent protests broke out across the country after the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on May 9, 2023. During the turmoil, attacks were carried out on 39 military installations across the country between 3pm and 7pm of May 9. Most of these attacks — 23 — occurred in Punjab, followed by 8 in K-P, 7 in Sindh and one in Balochistan. Major military facilities attacked included the GHQ in Rawalpindi, the Corps Commander's House in Lahore, the Mianwali Air Force Base, and ISI offices in Faisalabad, Sargodha, and Rawalpindi.
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Thousands of ID cards, passports blocked over involvement in May 9 riots
Listen to article Passports and national identity cards of thousands of individuals linked to the May 9, 2023, riots have been blocked. More than 5,500 citizens from Lahore and other cities and towns across Punjab have had their passports blacklisted, officials from the Department of Passport and Immigration told local media. The revelation came a day after Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad convicted and sentenced 11 accused to various jail terms and fines in cases related to the violence on May 9, 2023, over charges of attacking the Ramna police station, attacking policemen, setting properties on fire, and spreading terrorism. May 9 cases refer to the violent attacks on state installations in 2023 following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan over corruption charges. Several people were arrested in these cases, which were tried and convicted by military courts as well as ATCs in different cities. Read More: 19 convicted in May 9 riots granted pardon Regarding the blocking of passports and national identity cards, sources said names were flagged based on geo-fencing data, which captured mobile or landline numbers detected near protest sites. In many cases, this data alone led to individuals being added to the blacklist, even without direct evidence of involvement. Some of those affected have submitted proof of innocence to police and law enforcement agencies. However, their names remain on the blacklist, prompting hundreds to file legal challenges in court. The Lahore High Court has taken up dozens of such cases and summoned passport officials along with relevant records. In several hearings, officials have submitted documents confirming the blacklisting of passports. Read More: Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Yasmin Rashid indicted in May 9 riots case During proceedings, it emerged that many individuals worked in nearby government or private offices and had only made calls to family members during the unrest, but were still flagged due to their mobile phone location data. In court filings, the Passport and Immigration Department stated that it does not hold the authority to add or remove names from the blacklist. That power, it said, rests with the Ministry of Interior, which manages both the blacklist and the Exit Control List (ECL). The ministry has reportedly placed names on the blacklist for any degree of involvement in the May 9 events. Those whose passports have expired cannot renew them until their names are cleared. May 9 Riots The May 9 riots erupted nationwide following the arrest of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan, after which PTI leaders and workers staged protests targeting both civil and military installations, including Jinnah House and the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The military condemned the events as a "Black Day" and decided to try the protesters under the Army Act. As a result of the unrest, many PTI members were arrested and tried in military courts. In December, a military court convicted 25 individuals, including Imran Khan's nephew, Hassan Khan Niazi, and later sentenced 60 more. Also Read: Won't allow May 9 mayhem happen again In January, 19 convicts had their sentences pardoned following successful mercy appeals, although PTI expressed dissatisfaction over the limited number of pardons. The military trials had initially been halted following a Supreme Court ruling but were resumed following the court's instructions to finalize pending cases and announce judgments for those involved in the violent incidents. PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has strongly opposed the trial of civilians in military courts, citing constitutional concerns.
Business Recorder
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
IHC orders to remove names of Aleema Khan, Raoof Hasan from ECL
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) ordered the removal of the names of Aleema Khan, sister of former prime minister Imran Khan and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Raoof Hasan from the Exit Control List (ECL), Passport Control List (PCL) and PNIL. A single bench of IHC comprising Khadim Hussain Soomro on Tuesday heard a petition filed by Aleema through her counsels, Niazullah Khan Niazi, Barrister Umair Khan Niazi and Khalid Yousaf Chaudhary and sought a declaration against the enlistment of her name in the blacklist/passport control list or PNIL list. The petitioner's counsel submitted that Aleema Khan is a member of two charitable organisations, i.e. Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital as well as Namal University. He submitted that the petitioner intended to travel abroad for a fundraising programme. However, her name has been listed on the blacklist without any cogent reasons. He submitted that as per instructions from her client, she has obtained bail in all the cases registered against her, and there are no proceedings of sections 87 and 88 CrPC, is pending in any court of law. In compliance with the directives contained in order dated 07.05.2025, respondent No2 (Director General FIA) has filed a report, which is taken on record. The judge observed that perusal of report reflected that the name of the petitioner was placed on Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) on the request of DIG (Legal) for IGP, Punjab, Lahore vide letter No.6689/Legal dated 07.05.2025 on the ground that she has been declared as absconder in FIR No.3393/24 dated 27.11.2024 offence under sections 395, 324, 427, 109, 143, 150, 188, 186, 341, 195, 148, 149, PPC, 7/21(I) ATA, P.S. Sadiqabad, Rawalpindi. Later, the IHC bench ordered to remove Aleema's name from the stop list and also directed her to approach the trial court to seek permission for travelling abroad. Meanwhile, another bench of the IHC comprising Justice Inaam Ameen Minhas declared the inclusion of PTI's former information secretary Raoof Hasan's name in the PCL illegal and based on a mala fide intention and ordered to remove his name from the list. Justice Inam Amin Minhas, while accepting Raoof's plea, ordered him to approach the trial court to seek permission to travel abroad. The judge also ordered the trial court to decide the fate of the PTI leader's plea as early as possible. The judge noted that Raoof was a cancer survivor and therefore, wanted to go abroad for a checkup. He wrote in his written order, 'In view of the above reasons, the instant writ petition is allowed. The act of the respondents to place the name of the petitioner on PCL is declared illegal, unlawful, unwarranted, arbitrary, without jurisdiction and based on mala fide.' 'The respondents are directed to remove the name of the petitioner from PCL or PNIL with immediate effect. However, the petitioner is directed to approach the learned Trial Court seized of the trial in case FIR No176/2024 seeking permission to travel abroad,' said the judge. He concluded that the trial court, if approached, shall decide the request of the petitioner expeditiously in accordance with law. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Number of individuals on ECL: IHC directs FBR to provide statistics
ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to provide statistics of the number of individuals, who have been recommended by it to be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL). A single bench of IHC comprising Justice Babar Sattar issued the directions while hearing a petition moved by a citizen, Abdul Qadir, allegedly implicated in two cases of tax fraud and then, his name was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), on the Passport Control List (PCL) and on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). Counsel for the petitioner stated that according to respondent No 4 (FIA), the name of the petitioner was placed on the aforementioned lists on the recommendation of respondent No 5 (FBR). He stated that the petitioner has been implicated in two cases of sales tax fraud. However, He added that in both of the cases by orders dated 08.08.2024 and 17.10.2024 the petitioner has been acquitted. He stated that notwithstanding the fact that any appeal has been filed or that criminal charges are otherwise being pending adjudication against the petitioner, it is settled law that merely on the basis of allegations of a criminal offence committed by a person, his name cannot be placed on ECL. He maintained that the manner in which the petitioner's name has been placed on the aforementioned lists is tantamount to colourable exercise of authority by the respondents. Justice Sattar wrote in his written order that he had heard the arguments of the counsel for the petitioner as well as the counsel for Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). The court asked the counsel for FBR as to whether there is a policy instrument, which regulates the manner in which recommendations are to be made by the Revenue Division and/or FBR for purposes of Rule 2(1)(d) of the Exit from Pakistan (Control) Rules, 2010 ('Rules'). He sought some time to procure such information. At this, he said, 'Let FBR file a report stating whether or not there is such policy. In such report, let FBR also provide statistics of the number of individuals, who have been recommended to be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) in exercise of authority under rule 2(1)(d) of the Rules. And further, the number of people, who were actually placed on the ECL by the federal government.' He also directed that the director general of the Directorate General of Immigration and Passports also appeared before the Court and provided his explanation as to why he could not appear when the case was first called. 'Let him also file a report stating the number of citizens he has placed on the ECL since he has assumed office in various categories while identifying the category where expatriate Pakistanis deported from other countries are placed on ECL as a consequence of such deportation,' directed the judge. He said, 'Let him also provide in the report statistics with regard to the number of citizens that have challenged the placement of their names on ECL/PCL or any travel control list and the cases where such actions succeeded and the directions were issued that the names be removed. Let him also state in the report, in the event that he so wishes, as to the consequences that ought to flow to a public official who is found to have placed names of citizens on ECL in breach of the law and the Constitution.' Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
