KARACHI: Model Ayyan Ali has to wait further for going abroad, as the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday adjourned her contempt petition against the Ministry of Interior for not removing her name from exit control list (ECL) despite the court’s order.
In Wednesday’s hearing, Ayyan’s counsel Latif Khosa stated that placing his client’s name in ECL was illegal. He argued that contempt proceedings should be initiated against the authorities for not striking Ayyan’s name off ECL despite the court’s order.
Additional Attorney General stated that on the directives of the apex and high court, Ayyan’s name had been removed from that list but on April 19, 2016 her name was placed yet another time through new notification; therefore, it could not be considered as the contempt of court.
After the arguments, the court adjourned the hearing till May 16, 2016.
Earlier in March 2016, the SHC directed authorities concerned to remove her name from ECL; however, it suspended the operation of its own order on the request of attorney general as the government wanted to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
Later, the case was sent to the Supreme Court that upheld the decision of SHC for removing Ayyan Ali name from ECL.
After the SC’s verdict, Ayyan had booked the ticket to go abroad for her professional assignments but she was stopped from leaving the country at Jinnah International Airport on April 20. Ayyan was told that her name still exists in ECL.
On the grievance, the model approached the apex court, seeking contempt of court’s proceeding against the responsibles for not removing her name from ECL, but the top court told her to move SHC regarding the issue.
