ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party Vice Chairman and former premier Yousaf Raza Gilani was yesterday stopped form travelling to Italy to attend an Inter-Parliamentary Union.
Gilani, the incumbent opposition leader in the Senate, was told his name was on the Exit Control List (ECL). His daughter was also stopped for unlawfully holding a diplomatic passport. Gilani was planning to travel to Italy to attend IPU’s Pre-COP26 Parliamentary meeting.
Later, Gilani said he had been travelling abroad after these 2013 restrictions which include UAE, UK, Afghanistan, Nigeria, France and South Korea.
Gilani’s name was placed on ECL in 2013 on the recommendation of NAB in appointment case of Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority chairman.
Gilani was earlier granted one-time permission to travel abroad which he availed in 2020.
PPP Vice President Senator Sherry Rehman said Gilani was going to Rome to lead the Pakistani delegation, comprising member of the national assembly and Senators.
“The government is allowing convicted criminals to leave the country, but there are restrictions on PPP leaders. Gilani wanted to represent the country in front of lawmakers around the world but was stopped,” she said in a statement.
The PPP leader slammed “two systems” in the country. “One former prime minister is allowed to leave the country despite his name being on the ECL but the other is stopped,” she contended.