Cabinet decides not to remove names of 20 people from ECL: Fawad

Cabinet decided to constitute a committee to review the matter

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry on Thursday said that the matter pertaining to inclusion of names on the Exit Control List (ECL) would be reviewed after receiving detailed judgement of Supreme Court.

Talking to media after federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Thursday, he said that the Ministry of Law informed the cabinet that the names of 172 people had been included in the ECL on the request of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

The minister said the law ministry informed the cabinet that no formal or written verdict has yet been received from the Supreme Court on the subject so any further proceedings about the ECL issue should be deferred for the time being.

Chaudhry went on to say that the federal cabinet has ruled out a request by the Interior Ministry to remove names of 20 people from the ECL in the fake bank accounts case.

He said that since the list includes the names of several PPP big wigs and others who are directly involved in fake bank accounts and money laundering matters, the Cabinet decided to constitute a committee to review the matter. 

He said the committee will include Minister for Law and Justice Dr. Muhammad Farogh Naseem, Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Afridi, Prime Minister s Special Assistant on Accountability Shahzad Akbar and the Interior Secretary Azam Suleman Khan.

He said the cabinet decided that Supreme Court may also be approached for a review appeal on this count after receiving a report from the concerned committee on the ECL issue.

Fawad Chaudhry said the cabinet noted with satisfaction that the countries  exports increased by 4.5 percent during the month of December while the trade deficit reduced up to five hundred forty million dollars, having a very pleasant impact on the national economy.

He said it was the outcome of Prime Minister Imran Khan and his economic team s extensive and prudent efforts to deal with the current account and fiscal deficit issues with the active support of friendly countries.

"Government s efforts to boost exports and reduce imports have also been fruitful," he said and added the government is also endeavoring to provide ease of doing business to the foreign and local investors to promote economic activities and create jobs.

The minister said: "Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the Law Ministry to provide him the negative category list about overseas Pakistanis within forty eight hours, enabling the government to take a policy decision at the earliest to provide all possible facilities to those expatriates who want to bring investment in different sectors in Pakistan." 

"The Ministry of Petroleum was directed to come out with a comprehensive plan to address the gas shortage problem in the country," he added.

Fawad Chaudhry said the cabinet regretted that the gas worth Rs50 billion is being pilfered annually from the system and the previous government took no remedial measures to address this alarming situation.

The background

The Joint Investigation Team (JIT), probing into an alleged mega money laundering case, has accused the Zardari Group, Omni Group and Bahria Town in its report presented to the apex court, and subsequently requested placing the names of 172 suspects on the ECL.

Responding to the JIT findings, the federal government had released a list of 172 suspects whose names were placed on the list. The list included Bilawal Bhutto,

Asif Ali Zardari, Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah, presidents of many local banks, and other former ministers, bureaucrats and businessmen. However, the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Saqib Nisar expressed disappointment over the government’s decision.

“How can the name of chief executive of the country’s second-biggest province be put on the ECL?” Justice Nisar asked the attorney general. His remarks forced the government to review its decision.