LAHORE: Justice Farooq Haider of the Lahore High Court on Monday recused himself from hearing a petition filed by the wife of former federal minister Moonis Elahi against the inclusion of her name in the Exit Control List (ECL).

The judge refused to hear the petition for personal reasons and referred it to the chief justice with a request to fix its hearing before any other appropriate bench.

The petitioner, Tehreem Elahi contends that she has dual nationality – of Pakistan and Britain – and her children live in the United Kingdom (UK).

She said her name has been placed on the ECL as her husband is a political figure and the present government has turned hostile against him.

The petitioner pleads that she wants to visit her children in the UK, but is unable to travel abroad due to her placement on the ECL.

The petitioner states that she has nothing to do with the political activities of her husband and that baseless cases are being constituted against him.

She asks the court to order the authorities concerned to remove her name from the ECL and allow her to travel abroad to see her children.

Moonis Elahi, who left the country last year, faces multiple cases of corruption and money laundering registered against him by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE).

JUDGE RETIRES: Justice Safdar Saleem Shahid of the Lahore High Court on Monday reached superannuation after serving the higher judiciary for over two years. He was elevated to the bench from the district judiciary on May 7, 2021.

A farewell ceremony was held to give him a send-off with judges working at the principal seat of Lahore in attendance.

Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti and other senior judges presented a flower bouquet to Justice Shahid. LHC Registrar Irfan Ahmad Saeed was also present on the occasion.

After this retirement, the LHC is left with 40 judges against the constitutional strength of 60.

Published in Dawn, Aug 1st, 2023