Justice Shahid Karim of Lahore High Court on Thursday reserved the verdict on maintainability of a petition filed by Pakistan People’s Party candidate from NA-133 Faisal Mir challenging appointment of interim interior minister Azam Khan for removing name of Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari alias Zulfi Bukhari from the Exit Control List (ECL) and allowing him to perform Umrah along with Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Chairman Imran Khan. Petitioner counsel said that Azam Khan had a close friendship with PTI Chief Imran Khan and was a member of the Imran Khan Foundation. He alleged that Azam by misusing his authority removed the name of Zulfiqar Bukhari from ECL without seeking approval from the federal cabinet. He said that this action of the interior minister was illegal as the Federal Investigation Agency had suggested placing Zulfi’s name in the ECL. He also submitted that the appointment of Azam is against the mandate of section 230 of Election Act 2017 which stipulates in a categorical terms that a caretaker government must be impartial to every person and political party. He claimed that being interior minister, Azam could influence the upcoming general elections. He requested to declare his appointment as interior minister as illegal. Published in Daily Times, June 22nd 2018.