PESHAWAR:
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has filed a writ petition in the Peshawar High Court (PHC) challenging the blocking of his passport and the inclusion of his name in the Exit Control List (ECL) and other watch lists.
The petition, filed through Advocate Bashir Wazir, names the Ministry of Interior, Director General of the FIA, Director General of Passports and Immigration, and others as respondents.
It argues that the chief minister, being the province’s chief executive, frequently needs to travel abroad for official and administrative matters. However, his name was allegedly blacklisted unlawfully, his passport blocked, and his name placed on the ECL and other lists, restricting his movement.
According to the petition, Gandapur applied for the renewal of his passport, but the authorities refused to process it. His counsel contended that no prior notice was issued before placing his name on the lists, which amounts to discriminatory treatment and violates constitutional rights.
The petition requests the court to direct authorities to remove his name from the ECL, Provisional Control List, and National Control List, restore his passport, and allow him to travel abroad for official duties. The chief minister’s legal team has also sought an early hearing of the case.