ISLAMABAD: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered authorities to remove the names of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, and Chief Minister Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, from the country’s exit control list (ECL).
The court issued the directive while hearing a suo motu case in which Pakistan’s former president, Asif Ali Zardari, his sister Faryal Talpur, and several high-profile individuals were accused of siphoning off billions of rupees by using fake bank accounts.
The country’s top court also ordered the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to probe the case within a period of two months in the light of a report submitted by a Joint Investigation Team (JIT).
The JIT had shared its findings after investigating several fictitious bank accounts which had been opened using identity details of ordinary laborers, without their knowledge or consent.
These accounts were allegedly used for money laundering, with each one of them reflecting frequent transactions involving huge sums of money.
During Monday’s hearing, the court observed that the JIT needed to clarify why Bilawal’s name was on the list of suspects when he had been pursuing his studies abroad and was not involved in his father’s business operations.
It may be recalled that the top court had expressed surprise after finding Shah’s name on the no-fly list too.
Meanwhile, a banking court in Karachi has extended the interim bail for Zardari and Talpur, until January 23.
SC orders removal of Bilawal and Sindh CM’s names from ECL
SC orders removal of Bilawal and Sindh CM’s names from ECL
- Asks NAB to probe money laundering case in light of investigating team’s report
- Former president Zardari’s interim bail extended until January 23
Pakistan opposition rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to demand release of Imran Khan
- PTI-led gathering calls the former PM a national hero and demands the release of all political prisoners
- Government says the opposition failed to draw a large crowd and accuses PTI of damaging its own politics
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s opposition led by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party demanded the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan at a rally in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday, describing him as a national hero who continues to command public support.
The gathering came days after a rare and strongly worded briefing by the military’s media chief, Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, who dismissed Khan as “narcissistic” and “mentally ill” on Friday while responding to the former premier’s allegations that Pakistan’s chief of defense forces was responsible for undermining the constitution and rule of law.
He said that Khan was promoting an anti-state narrative which had become a national security threat.
The participants of the rally called for “civilian supremacy” and said elected representatives should be treated with respect.
“We, the people of Pakistan, regard Imran Khan as a national hero and the country’s genuinely elected prime minister, chosen by the public in the February 8, 2024 vote,” said a resolution presented at the rally in Peshawar. “We categorically reject and strongly condemn the notion that he or his colleagues pose any kind of threat to national security.”
“We demand immediate justice for Imran Khan, Bushra Bibi and all political prisoners, and call for their prompt release,” it added, referring to Khan’s wife who is also in prison. “No restrictions should be placed on Imran Khan’s meetings with his family, lawyers or political associates.”
Addressing the gathering, Sohail Afridi, the chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, denied his administration was not serious about security issues amid increased militant activity. However, he maintained the people of his province had endured the worst of Pakistan’s conflict with militancy and urged a rethinking of long-running security policies.
The resolution asked the federal government to restore bilateral trade and diplomatic channels with Afghanistan, saying improved cross-border ties were essential for the economic stability of the region.
The trade between the two neighbors has suffered as Pakistan accuses the Taliban administration in Kabul of sheltering and facilitating armed groups that it says launch cross-border attacks to target its civilians and security forces. Afghan officials deny the claim.
The two countries have also had deadly border clashes in recent months that have killed dozens of people on both sides.
Some participants of the rally emphasized the restoration of democratic freedoms, judicial independence and space for political reconciliation, calling them necessary to stabilize the country after years of political confrontation.
Reacting to the opposition rally, Information Minister Attaullah Tarrar said the PTI and its allies could not gather enough people.
“In trying to build an anti-army narrative, they have ruined their own politics,” he said, adding that the rally’s reaction to the military’s media chief’s statement reflected “how deeply it had stung.”
“There was neither any argument nor any real response,” he added, referring to what was said by the participants of the rally.
