No legal or moral justification to restrict Zartaj from travelling abroad: IHC

Islamabad:  The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Saturday issued a hearing order on the application to remove the name of former federal minister and PTI leader Zartaj Gul from the Exit Control List (ECL) for performing Hajj.

Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri, in his hearing order, remarked that there was no legal ground or moral justification for travel restrictions on Zartaj Gul.

The court, in its order, stated that the Interior Secretary should appoint a senior officer, who knows about the law to assist the court, and the authorised officer should be aware of the facts of the case in the next hearing along with the relevant records.

The court order further stated that according to the state counsel, the petitioner had been facing legal matters in several cases of protests and was not absconding as she had secured bail.

The order further stated that there was no legal reason or moral justification for Zartaj Gul’s travel abroad.

The IHC then issued a notice to the Interior Secretary and sought a reply on the matter.