Islamabad (Staff Report): The Supreme Court on Thursday turned down Malir’s former SSP Rao Anwar’s petition seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
A three-judge bench of the apex court headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar heard former police officer’s plea.
Rao Anwar had requested the court to issue order for removal his name from the no fly list, saying that he want to leave for Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah and to meet his children.
The petition further stated that registration of a case against the accused was not a valid reason for placing their name on the ECL, as freedom of movement was a fundamental right.
CJP Nisar, while expressing his displeasure at how Anwar has been 'facilitated' over the past year, remarked that the former SSP's passport should be confiscated.
“Rao Anwar is talking about travelling abroad. His passport should be confiscated. Tell his family to come here and meet him,” the top judge remarked to the SSP’s counsel.
“He must be wanting to transfer money abroad that he earned here,” the chief justice observed.
Rao Anwar is facing trial before an anti-terrorism court for allegedly killing Mehsud, a shopkeeper and aspiring model from South Waziristan, and three others in an alleged staged encounter on January 13, 2018 in Malir.
Another case was registered against Anwar for possession of explosives and illegal weapons.