ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Thursday directed the government to remove the name of Dr Asim Hussain from the Exit Control List (ECL), allowing him to travel abroad for treatment.
A three- member bench of the apex court, headed by Justice Mushir Alam heard, Dr Asim’s petition, seeking the removal of his name from the ECL so that he could be able to travel aboard.
Dr Asim faces three cases: two of corruption during his stint in the last federal government and one of facilitating terrorists at his hospital.
During the hearing, Dr Asim’s counsel Latif Khosa informed the bench his client followed the apex court’s earlier permission to travel abroad for treatment and return in a month.
In his remarks, Justice Isa wondered why the law was not implemented equally on all citizens. He observed that those with treason cases against them were sitting abroad, questioning if anything had been done to bring them back.
On August 29, Dr Asim was allowed to leave for London for a back surgery and ordered to submit a surety bond of Rs 6 million.
Khosa submitted that treatment of his client was not completed, but his name was again put on ECL. He pleaded the court to order the government to remove the name of his client. The court, while accepting the petition, ordered the Interior Ministry to remove Dr Asim’s name from ECL.
Published in Daily Times, November 17th 2017.
