The Islamabad High Court has ordered authorities to remove YouTuber Rajab Butt’s name from the Passport Control List (PCL), ruling that such restrictions must be imposed fairly and within legal limits.
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In a six-page written judgment, Justice Azam Khan directed relevant institutions to immediately remove the petitioner’s name from the PCL, provided there is no other legal restriction or order from a competent court preventing the action.
The court observed that the power to place an individual on the Passport Control List is not unlimited and must be exercised in a lawful, reasonable, and transparent manner.
According to the ruling, inclusion on the PCL directly affects an individual’s constitutional right to free movement and therefore requires strong legal justification.
Justice Azam Khan noted that any restriction on travel rights must be based on solid grounds and should only remain in place for as long as necessary to achieve a legitimate legal objective.
The court further explained that the primary purpose of placing a person on the PCL is to ensure their availability before investigative agencies or courts. Once that objective has been fulfilled, continuing the restriction may no longer be justified.
The judgment emphasised that authorities cannot impose indefinite travel limitations without clear legal necessity, warning against arbitrary use of such powers.
Rajab Butt had approached the court seeking removal of his name from the list, arguing that the restriction was affecting his mobility and professional commitments.
The case has drawn attention due to Rajab Butt’s popularity as a digital content creator and social media personality in Pakistan.
Legal observers say the ruling may have broader implications for future cases involving travel restrictions, particularly concerning procedural fairness and proportionality.
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The decision reinforces judicial scrutiny over administrative actions affecting citizens’ mobility rights and highlights the need for authorities to justify restrictions under existing law. Further action from the relevant departments is expected following the court’s directive.