KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday issued notices to the Interior Ministry, DG Immigration, deputy attorney general and others for June 23, 2016 on a contempt application filed by super model Ayyan Ali, requesting the court to initiate contempt proceedings against the ministry for not removing her name from the Exit Control List (ECL) despite the court’s order.
A two-member bench, headed by Justice Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi heard the application. Earlier, petitioner’s counsel submitted that her name was not yet removed from the ECL despite the court’s directions. This act of the Interior Ministry is the contempt of the court and proceedings should be initiated against them.
According to the petitioner she was barred to leave the country on Wednesday by Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the agency had stopped her when she was about to fly for Dubai after her name was removed from on the SHC’s directives.
The SHC had directed the interior ministry to strike Ayyan’s name off from the list that restrains her from going out of the country after several hearings. The court was informed by the Secretary of Interior Arif Ahmed Khan that the government, while complying with its directives, has removed Ayyan’s name from the list.
The model got surprised when she approached at Karachi airport on Wednesday to travel abroad but came to know that her name has been re-inserted in the list. She kept the SHC’s order in hand and was showing to counter but to no avail.
Citing interior secretary, FIA and immigration department as the respondents, Ayyan requested the court to initiate the contempt of court’s proceedings against them.
Earlier, she had also filed the contempt plea against the federal government but it was disposed of by the government on assurance that its directives will be complied with.
