IHC orders to remove Zulfi Bukhari’s name from blacklist

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Islamabad High Court on Friday ordered to remove PTI's Chairman Imran Khan close aide Zulfi Bukhari’s name from the blacklist. Justice Aamer Farooq, who reserved the verdict, announced the decision. The justice ordered the concerned authorities to remove Bukhari’s name from the blacklist. The court dismissed the petition seeking investigations for removing the name of Aulfi Bukhari from exit control list (ECL). The court also rejected the plea seeking inquiry regarding using of special flight from the Nur Khan Airbase as civilian. The London-based businessman travelling restrictions were ended now. Earlier on Tuesday, the justice reserved its verdict on a petition filed against placement of Zulfi Bukhari’s name on a blacklist. Bukhari was barred from leaving Pakistan when he proceeded to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah on June 11. Bukhari was later granted a one-time permission to go abroad for six days by the Interior Ministry. Bukhari’s counsel had previously argued that his client, a British national, left for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah along with Imran Khan in a special flight from the Nur Khan Airbase when the Federal Investigation Agency informed him that his name was on the blacklist. Caretaker Interior Minister Azam Khan last month admitted he granted permission to Bukhari to travel abroad. Azam said he was informed by the interior secretary that Bukhari wanted to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah with the PTI chairman, but was stopped from leaving the country due to his name being on the blacklist. The interior secretary further told him that Bukhari had submitted an affidavit stating that he would return to Pakistan, Azam said, following which he was granted permission to travel for six days.