Haqqani’s name yet to be added to ECL

Despite the Supreme Court’s orders preventing Pakistan’s former ambassador to the US Hussain Haqqani from leaving the country during the pendency of the memo case before the court, the government is yet to put his name on the ECL (Exit Control List). The SC in its order dated December 1 had told the secretaries of the ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs that Haqqani should not leave the country without prior permission of the court, otherwise they shall be held personally responsible. There is no other mechanism to stop an individual from proceeding abroad except putting his name on the ECL, suggesting Haqqani’s name should have been put on the ECL, but it is interesting to note that the Interior Ministry is waiting for the SC’s orders in this regard. In other words, the government’s lethargy is reflective of its trust in Haqqani that he would not create a problem for the government by leaving the country without the SC’s permission. Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Monday told reporters that Haqqani’s name had not been put on the ECL, adding that the government would do so after SC’s orders.