ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Monday summoned the interior secretary, director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and director general of Immigration and Passports over the failure to implement court orders directing the removal of citizens’ names from the Passport Control List (PCL).
A single-member bench comprising Justice Azam Khan heard contempt of court petitions filed over the authorities’ failure to remove the petitioners’ names from the PCL despite judicial directives.
The court had directed Director General Immigration and Passports Muhammad Ali Randhawa in September to implement its orders regarding the removal of citizens’ names from the PCL by the next date of hearing.
During Monday’s proceedings, the court summoned Interior Secretary Ahmed Raza Sarwar, FIA Director General Usman Anwar and DG Immigration and Passports Muhammad Ali Randhawa to appear in person.
A deputy director of Immigration and Passports informed the court that the matter was pending before a review committee.
Justice Azam Khan questioned the explanation, asking how the court should respond to a failure to implement its order merely because the matter was before a committee.
Immigration and Passports officials told the court that the committee was part of the procedure for reviewing such cases.
The judge also questioned what mechanism was in place after a court issued an order and warned the assistant attorney general that the authorities would face consequences if another contempt petition was filed over non-compliance.
The court directed that the director general be called to appear, observing that the matter could not be handled in this manner.
The case concerns petitioner Wajahat Hussain, whose name the court had ordered to be removed from the Passport Control List.
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