KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Wednesday reserved the verdict on a contempt application filed by model Ayan Ali against the Ministry of Interior for not removing her name from exit control list (ECL), despite the court’s order.
A division bench, headed by Justice Ahmed Ali M Sheikh, heard the application and reserved the verdict after Additional Attorney General Salman Talibuddin and Ayyan’s counsel Latif Khosa concluded their arguments. The date of judgment’s pronouncement will be fixed later.
During the hearing, Salman Talibuddin submitted that petitioner’s case is under proceeding and respondents did not violate any directives of the court. “Complying with the court’s order, the government had removed Ayyan’s name form ECL. The contempt application is not maintainable and it should be dismissed,” he requested the court.
However, counsel for the petitioner stated that placing Ayyan’s name in ECL is illegal. “Contempt proceedings should be initiated against the authorities for not striking Ayyan’s name off from ECL despite the court’s order,” he argued.
Earlier in March 2016, the SHC had 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.
Ayyan did not have to wait too long as on April 13, the Apex court upheld the decision of SHC Ayyan Ali which removed her 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 responsible for not removing her name from ECL, but the top court told her to move SHC regarding the issue.
Super Model Ayyan was arrested from Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Airport, Islamabad on when she was allegedly trying to smuggle half million US dollars. The passport of Ayyan Ali and $500,000 was confiscated by customs authorities.
