ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Tuesday suspended Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)’s notification of placing Shahbaz Gill and Mirza Shahzad Akbar’s name on no-fly list.
A single bench of Islamabad High Court comprising Chief Justice Justice Athar Minallah issued directions on the petitions moved by Muhammad Shahbaz Shabbir Gill and Mirza Shahzad Akbar who invoked the jurisdiction of the court under Article 199 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, 1973 assailing placing of their names on the Provisional National Identification List to stop them from flying out of Pakistan.
The IHC bench directed the registrar office to issue notices to the Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Federal Investigation Agency Director General. It further said, “Their nominated officials shall appear at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow and explain who had authorised placing of the names of the petitioners and other three officials closely associated with the former prime minister on the list.”
The IHC Chief Justice said, “They are expected to satisfy the court that the action was not based on victimisation.” He added that the office was directed to inform the above officials regarding this order telephonically and copies be also sent through special messenger. The court further said that till the next date fixed, the operation of the no fly list/PNIL to the extent of the petitioners and other three officials, Muhammad Azam Khan, Muhammad Gohar Nafees and Arsalan Khalid shall remain suspended.
The petitioners’ counsels contended that names of the petitioners were placed on PNIL at 01:45 a.m. on 10th of this month i.e. immediately after the vote of no-confidence had been passed. They stated that the petitioners were appointed as Special Assistants to the former PM and, therefore, it had been alleged that the action of the respondents was illegal and malafide. They argued that PNIL had no statutory backing and according to the applicable notification, names of such persons are placed on it, who are alleged to have committed heinous offences while no case had ever been registered against the petitioners. After issuing the directions, the bench also directed to relist petition on Wednesday (today).
