Why are some lawmakers so scared of ECL, asks PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan questioned why some lawmakers are “so scared” of the Exit Control List (ECL).

“Why are some of our lawmakers so scared of the ECL? Why are they so keen to go abroad? There is so much work to be done by politicians in and for Pakistan — the land they claim to love but some cannot wait to take frequent trips abroad and lawmakers have iqamas or residencies abroad,” the premier tweeted.

Prime Minister Imran Khan. – File Photo

“Can anyone explain this strange phenomenon to those of us who would be quite happy to remain in and work for Pakistan because we actually love Pakistan,” PM Imran added.

A day earlier, the Supreme Court in a written order stated that the names of Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah should be removed from the no-fly list.

SC judge Justice Ijazul Ahsan wrote the verdict in which the court ordered the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to send all evidence and relevant material to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). The verdict stated that the JIT will assist NAB in the investigation and submit a report to the court within 15 days.

Last month, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government placed names of 172 suspects, including Bilawal and CM Shah, on the ECL following a JIT report in the ongoing money laundering probe.