KARACHI: Khalil-ur-Rehman, proprietor of M/s Khalil Hnif Impex approached the Sindh High Court (SHC) for removal of his name from Exit Control List (ECL) which was placed due to his alleged involvement for illegal benefit obtained through refund of tax.
On 14 November 2019, counsel for the petitioner filed constitutional petition and argued that petitioner is doing export business and for such sort of business, petitioner has to travel for expansion as well as smooth running of business. He submitted that petitioner was involved in the case by NAB officials. According to NAB, the petitioner has gained illegal benefit through refund of tax, therefore is involved in reference no 51/2016 titled as state vs Muhammad Yousuf and others which is pending adjudication before the learned accountability court No II Karachi.
He argued that petitioner has approached the SHC and court had granted his pre-arrest bail, however, court had directed him to deposit his original passport with the nazir, and secretary ministry of interior shall place his name on ECL and no fresh or duplicate passport should be issued to him. Counsel argued that petitioner is a regular taxpayer. He paid Rs1,55,35,216 as tax in 2018 but his business is still suffering as his name is included in the ECL and his rights are being curtailed by the respondents in just a petty matter including only Rs38,00,000 of alleged embezzlement.
Citing secretary Ministry of Interior Islamabad, secretary Ministry of Home Department Sindh, DG NAB and others, petitioner pleaded the court to declare that placing of name in ECL as illegal and his name should be removed and passport be released and handed over to the petitioner.