LHC permits Hamza Shehbaz to travel abroad for 10 days

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday granted permission to Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz to travel abroad for a period of 10 days.

A day earlier, Hamza had moved the LHC against his name being placed on the black list.

In his petition, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader had made the Ministry of Interior, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), DG Immigration and the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) respondents. Hamza stated that he wants to travel abroad on medical basis.

LHC’s Justice Farrukh Irfan heard Hamza’s petition today. During the hearing, the judge asked the opposition leader’s counsel whether he is involved in “anti-state activities”. “My client is a patriotic citizen and did not even leave the country during Pervez Musharraf’s dictatorship,” the counsel responded.

Hamza told the court, “Last year in November, when I was travelling to Britain, I was told at the airport that my name is on the black list.”

At this, the court asked the additional attorney general “why an innocent citizen’s name was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL)”.

The court then granted Hamza permission to travel abroad for 10 days. Further, the court sought a reply from the federal government within 15 days and adjourned the hearing of the case.