KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday adjourned the hearing of a contempt application filed by model Ayyan Ali against the Ministry of Interior for not removing her name from the Exit Control List (ECL) despite the court’s order, until May 18. A two-member bench, headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, was hearing the contempt application.
During the hearing, Additional Attorney General Salman Talibuddin submitted that order of the Supreme Court has not been received, therefore, he requested for some time to submit para wise comments.
The counsel for the petitioner stated that placing his client’s name in ECL is illegal. He argued that contempt proceedings should be initiated against the authorities for not striking Ayyan’s name off the ECL despite the court’s order.
Earlier in March 2016, the SHC directed authorities concerned to remove her name from the ECL. However, it suspended the operation on its own order on the request of attorney general as the government wanted to challenge the decision in the Supreme Court.
Ayyan did not have to wait too long as on April 13, the apex court upheld the decision of the SHC which had removed her name from the ECL.
After the SC’s verdict, Ayyan had booked a 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 the ECL.
On the grievance, the model approached the apex court, seeking contempt of court’s proceeding against the responsible for not removing her name from ECL, but the top court told her to move the SHC regarding the issue.
