FIA stops Hamza Shahbaz from flying to London in violation of the Constitution of Pakistan
LAHORE/ISLAMABAD (11th Dec, 2018): The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) without any prior notice and without any legal basis in violation of the constitution of Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s Article 4,10A and others as per sources mere on verbal orders of some government authority barred ‘Hamza Shahbaz’ [Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly – son of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)] from flying to London.
Hamza Shahbaz on this act said, “When I reached the immigration counter, I was told that my name is on the black list.”
“I am not wanted in the ongoing National Accountability Bureau (NAB) inquiry,” he added.
Hamza Shahbaz was scheduled to depart for London via a private airline to meet his brother.
Though last month, NAB had recommended to the Ministry of Interior to place Hamza and his brother, Salman, on the Exit Control List (ECL) as they are under investigation but their names were not put in ECL till now, as per sources.
Hamza and Salman are facing a NAB inquiry related to the construction of a bridge in Chiniot which allegedly facilitated Ramzan Sugar Mills owned by the Sharif family. NAB claims that Rs200 million were paid from the national exchequer for the construction of the bridge.
This issue is not just of ‘Hamza Shahbaz’ – thousands of Pakistani citizens face such issues where their fundamental right for free movement/travel is obstructed by some authorities using illegal means.
Recently ‘Zulfi Bukhari’ PM Imran Khan’s very close friend and a Special Assistant to PM criticised his own govt. as his petition states: “the petitioner filed a representation and review petition…despite passage of about two months, the review petition of the petitioner has neither been put up for the cabinet, nor decision has been taken thereon by the federal government”.
‘Zulfi Bukhari’ is also a victim of an illegal ‘Black List’ whereby his name was put without his/prior notice as per sources.
The honourable ‘Apex court’ must see into this grave routine violation of the constitution and may take a ‘suo moto’ in this regard as introduction of illegal alternates to ECL i.e. ‘Watch List’, ‘Black List’, ‘Blocking of CNIC’ etc without any approval from the national assembly or the Supreme Court are against the fundamental rights of the citizens of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.