LHC directs FIA to produce Warraich’s passport in court

LAHORE: Justice Umar Ata Bandial of the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday summoned the investigating officer of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on July 8 on a petition by Major (r) Habibullah Warraich, requesting for the removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL). The judge directed FIA Additional Director Zafar Qureshi, the investigating officer, to appear in court with complete record of the case. Deputy Attorney General Nasim Kashmiri said that the petition was baseless as the petitioner’s name was not in the ECL. The petitioner’s counsel said that the petitioner’s passport was in the FIA’s custody and he could not go abroad. The judge remarked, “What is the sin of his family members who are not allowed to go abroad.” He directed the FIA officials to visit office of the FIA Immigration Department to get the passport of the petitioner and submit it in the court. Former minister for defence Major (r) Warraich is the prime accused in the NICL land scandal case and is presently on bail. Warraich wants to go aboard along with his wife for medical treatment. According to the prosecution, Warraich, his son Mohsin Warraich, Muhammad Malick, manager of a company owned by MPA Chaudhry Moonis Elahi, were accused of misappropriating NICL’s funds on account of land purchase. Warraich alone had been charged for corruption worth Rs 1.68 billion. staff report