LAHORE: Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Maleeka Ali Bokhari has thanked Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for her timely intervention in removing her name from the exit control list (ECL), also known as the no-departure list, so that the former could visit her ailing sister in Australia.
Maleeka appealed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to allow her to visit her “mother figure” sister in Australia, who had suffered a brain hemorrhage and was on her deathbed.
Maryam took note of her request and through her social media account X assured her that she would speak to the relevant authorities in this regard.
“Let me speak to the proper authorities Maleeka. I hope you have submitted your written request officially. May Allah bless your sister with good health,” she tweeted.
After a while, Maleeka thanked Maryam for her help. “Thank you for your timely intervention. I was informed that my name has been removed from the no-fly list,” she replied.
In May 2023, the names of hundreds of PTI leaders and former assembly members, including party founder Imran Khan, were included in the ECL.
Their names were placed on a no-fly list after the May 9 incident to be investigated. The attacks refer to the violent protests that erupted after the arrest of the jailed PTI founder in the Al-Qadir Trust case.
Placing their names on the no-fly list prevented them from going abroad to be investigated for their involvement in the May 9 violent riots. The incidents of May 9, 2023 caused damage to public and private property, especially state army property.
In her application, Maleeka said that she is a citizen of Pakistan and the constitution grants her the fundamental right to freedom of movement and travel. She said her oldest sister was fighting for her life and she wanted to see her face.
“Her brain is swollen, she had a massive heart attack and is now on a ventilator. The doctors gave us 24 hours to decide whether to declare her dead or keep her on ventilator,” she wrote, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have put her on the illegal no-fly list. already a year.
“My sister has no political affiliation; she is a mother to me and I want to see her in person for the last time. I urge the state & @CMShehbaz to give me one time permission to be with my sister. That is my fundamental right. Our religion, ethics and laws of the land also dictate this,” she said on Shehbaz’s
