The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued notices to the relevant parties and sought their replies regarding a miscellaneous petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Usman Dar, seeking the removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
Case proceedings
Justice Sajid Mahmood Sethi presided over the hearing. The miscellaneous plea requested the court’s permission to make the official notification of his inclusion in the ECL a part of the judicial record.
Previously, the Secretary of Interior and the Director General of the FIA submitted a written response stating that Usman Dar is currently facing trial in the GHQ attack case. They informed the court that his name was placed on the ECL following a request from the Rawalpindi Police.
Petitioner’s stance
Usman Dar approached the High Court through his counsel, Barrister Abuzar Salman Niazi, to challenge the government’s action. The petition highlighted the following points:
- Previous removal: Usman Dar’s name had been removed from the ECL earlier in 2024.
- Lack of due process: The federal government re-added his name to the list without granting him a hearing or the opportunity to present his stance.
- Legal request: The petitioner has requested the court to nullify the government’s decision and order the immediate removal of his name from the ECL.
