ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided not to remove the name of former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf from the Exit Control List (ECL); however, if the court permits him to leave the country, then the government will not have any objection, media reported on Wednesday.
Moreover, the government has formally written to the former president, apprising him of the decision that it cannot remove his name from the ECL, media reports said.
On Monday, a three-member special court constituted to try the former military ruler for high treason indicted him in the case and further ruled that removal of Musharraf’s name from the ECL was not its prerogative as it had not ordered for the inclusion of his name in the list.
The ruling said that it was up to the government to allow or deny the request put forward by Musharraf to be allowed to travel abroad to meet his ailing mother.
Later, the counsel of Musharraf Farogh Naseem filed a formal request with the interior ministry to allow his client to travel abroad.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif held a key meeting with party leadership in Islamabad to discuss overall political situation in the country as well as Musharraf’s request to remove his name from the ECL.