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Express Tribune
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
ATC rejects Aleema Khan's travel plea
A special Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) rejected on Saturday the plea of Aleema Khan, the sister of the PTI founder, to be granted permission to travel to the UK for fundraising for Shaukat Khanum Hospital and NUML University. The court also dismissed her request for exemption from appearing in the GHQ attack, May 9 tragedy cases, and the November 26 protests cases. In her application, Aleema Khan's lawyer, Faizal Malik, argued that the petitioner is a member of the Board of Governors of NUML University and wishes to travel abroad to raise funds for a noble cause. He mentioned that NUML University is facing financial challenges, and the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had ordered her name to be removed from the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). The petitioner sought exemption from attendance for only three weeks, noting that the charge sheet in the case against her had not yet been submitted, so personal appearance was unnecessary. She was also ready to provide an undertaking. Ali Bukhari, another lawyer, argued that since the trial had not yet started, the petitioner's personal appearance was not essential. He added that in similar cases, the court had previously granted relief to the accused, and the petitioner's purpose for going abroad was not for personal reasons but for a noble cause. Public Prosecutor Zahid Shah stated that the prosecution had no objections to the noble cause. He pointed out that Aleema Khan had filed a pre-arrest bail application in the same case where she was seeking exemption, and her pre-arrest bail hearing is scheduled for May 21. He also noted that there are 11 additional cases registered against her in Rawalpindi, and she has not been granted bail in any of these cases.
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
Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
IHC lifts travel ban on PTI leaders
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the removal of Aleema Khan's name, the sister of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan, from the travel ban lists and directed her to approach the trial court for permission to travel abroad. The IHC also issued a six page-judgment allowing PTI leader Raoof Hasan's plea for the removal of his name from the travel ban list and similarly instructed him to seek permission from the trial court to travel abroad. IHC Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro heard Aleema Khan's petition. During the hearing, advocates Ali Bukhari, Khalid Yousuf Chaudhry and Niazullah Niazi appeared in the court on behalf of the petitioner. The court accepted the petition and ordered the removal of her name from the Passport Control List (PCL) and the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL). The court instructed her to seek permission for foreign travel from the trial court. Meanwhile, IHC Justice Inam Amin Minhas issued his written decision, approving the petition of Raoof Hasan for the removal of his name from the PCL. The judge said that a criminal case, pending or under investigation, did not justify the inclusion of the petitioner's name in the PCL. The court declared the order to include Hasan's name in the PCL as illegal. It added that the petitioner was on bail in the case against him but the state did not approach the relevant court for the bail cancellation. The court ordered the removal of Hasan's name from the PCL and directed him to approach the trial court for permission to travel abroad. The court also directed the trial court to decide the application expeditiously as per the law.
Business Recorder
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Same relief cannot be sought on two different forums: LHC
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) held that proceedings for the same relief cannot be conducted on two different forums. The court passed this order in a petition filed by a citizen, Munir Ahmed, who prayed to nullify the SOPs of Pakistan National Identity List (PNIL). Chief Justice Aalia Neelum expressing strong displeasure over the filing of a frivolous petition stated that this petition had already been filed and dismissed by the Islamabad High Court (IHC). A law officer stated that petitioner had already filed a similar petition in the IHC, which had dismissed it. The petitioner allegedly concealed this fact from the court. The petitioner's counsel, Azhar Siddique, argued that the petition in the IHC was not filed by the same petitioner. He claimed to be unaware of any judicial order in the Islamabad case. But he was shown the court order from the IHC where his appearance was officially recorded. The court after reviewing the entire record found the petition non-maintainable due to the same matter having been previously filed in the IHC. Chief Justice observed that court time was extremely valuable and should be reserved for serious matters. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
15-02-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PHC orders removal of Azam Swati's name from ECL
Peshawar High Court has granted Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati permission to travel abroad, ordering his name to be removed from the Exit Control List (ECL). According to the written order issued,, the court directed authorities to remove Swati's name from all travel restriction lists, including the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) and the Passport Control List (PCL). Swati had challenged the travel ban imposed on him, arguing that the restrictions were unjustified. Last month, the division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Thursday granted bail to former federal minister and leader of the PTI Azam Khan Swati in the October 4 case registered at the Taxila police station. The bench comprising Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan and Justice Sadiq Mehmood Khurram ordered the PTI leader to submit a surety bond of Rs50,000. Swati has been in custody for the past four months and is currently incarcerated in Attock Jail. During the hearing, Advocate Dr Babar Awan argued that Swati's arrest was unjustified and that protest is a constitutional right of every citizen, which cannot be denied. He claimed that the police had levelled false accusations against his client. The court accepted the bail plea, opening the way for his release. There are two remaining cases, in which bail is also likely. This bail decision has also paved the way for the release of other arrested workers involved in the October 4 and 5 protests, including those from Taxila, Hassan Abdal, and Attock cases. Moreover, in October 2024, an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Azam Swati in a case filed under terrorism provisions. The case, registered at Sangjani Police Station, charged Swati with terrorism-related offences following protests and vandalism. Judge Abu Al-Hasanat Muhammad Zulkernain presided over the case and approved Swati's post-arrest bail against surety bonds of Rs20,000. Swati had been detained under terrorism clauses following allegations of inciting protests that led to property damage. Swati's legal team maintained that the charges were politically motivated. Furthermore, Swati on Sunday was taken into custody after a raid at his farmhouse in Chak Shahzad by the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Cyber Crime Wing Islamabad for allegedly tweeting against senior military officials in November 2022. He was later produced before a judicial magistrate, who handed him over to the FIA on a two-day physical remand. An FIR against Swati was registered by the FIA Cyber Crime Wing on November 26 2022 over 'controversial' tweets he had posted recently allegedly against government functionaries, including the former chief of the army staff (COAS). The report maintained that the PTI leader had started a 'highly obnoxious campaign of intimidating tweets' against state institutions, including the army chief 'with malafide intentions and ulterior motives'. The FIR was registered on the complaint of the state through Islamabad Cyber Crime Reporting Centre Technical Assistant Aneesur Rehman.
