172 suspects including Zardari to be placed on ECL: information minister

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government on Thursday decided to put Pakistan Peoples’ Party Co-Chairperson Asif Ali Zardari on the Exit Control List (ECL) in the light of the ongoing money laundering probe against him.

The decision was announced by Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry in a press briefing held after a federal cabinet meeting.

Chaudhry said that taking in view of the Joint Investigative Report submitted in the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the federal government has decided to put as many as 172 people on the ECL. 

"I hope Zardari will take JIT seriously. This is not the old Pakistan where people will compromise," he said. "The independent accountability process will continue."

Chaudhry when asked that Zardari's counsel Lateef Khosa said that Zardari will be arrested before December 31, the minister replied: "Inshallah. What can I say about it."

The information minister said that polls for the FATA's provincial assembly will be held in June. 

"FATA will get constitutional rights. We wanted to take FATA into the mainstream as soon as possible," he said. 

'Detoriation of law and order in Karachi is being closely reviewed'

Chaudhry said that the federal cabinet reviewed deteriorating law and order situation in Karachi, adding that the government won't allow anyone to disturb peace in the metropolis. 

"A few of the gangs have activated again. The MQM founder in a recent video directed the party workers to kill people. No action has yet been taken by the UK authorities against the party leader," he said. 

Chaudhry said that the government will raise the incitment to violence issue with the UK government. 

"There are South African gangs involved in the Karachi violence. Foreign office has been advised to take the matter with the South African government," he said.