ISLAMABAD - National Bank of Pakistan President Saeed Ahmed who is an accused in the Panama Papers case has requested the government to remove his name from the exit control list so that he could go abroad for official and personal reasons, The Nation has learnt.

Saeed Ahmed’s name was placed on the ECL in June 2017 on the recommendations of the joint investigation team in the Panama Papers case.

According to the documents exclusively available with this scribe, Saeed Ahmad has sought permission for going abroad to discharge his official obligations, meet his family members and undergo medical treatment, if required.

He sought removal of his name from the ECL in the light of the permission granted to him by the finance division to visit London to safeguard the interests of NBP.

Ahmed said he should not be deprived of his right to visit abroad for official purposes or possible personal visits to meet family members or undergo medical treatment.

The documents show the finance division, vide letter dated September 14, 2017, had intimated to the interior ministry that Saeed Ahmed was allowed by the competent authority to visit London, UK, for one working day (October 12, 2017) to attend a board meeting of the Fauji Oil Terminal and Distribution Company Ltd (Fotco).

The finance division also requested the ministry of interior to consider the request of Saeed Ahmed for removal of his name from the ECL.

It is worth mentioning here that Finance Minister Ishaq Dar who heads the finance division is also an accused in the Panama Papers case.

The law division was also consulted on the subject, which advised the interior ministry to examine the same in the light of Exit from Pakistan (Ordinance), the relevant rules and directions of the court, if any.

However, according to the sources in the ministry of interior, the request is still pending with it and no decision has yet been taken on the subject.

The Supreme Court had held in the Panama Papers case verdict: “The NAB shall also include in the proceedings all other persons, including Sheikh Saeed, Musa Ghani, Kashif Masood Qazi, Javed Kayani and Saeed Ahmed, who have any direct or indirect nexus with the actions of respondents 1, 6, 7, 8 and 10, leading to acquisition of assets and funds beyond their known resources of income.”