The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday directed the federal government to submit comments on a petition seeking explanation of procedures with regard to inclusion and removal of names from the exit control list (ECL). A high court bench directed the government to come up with its reply by Feb 20. The federal government, prime minister, interior minister, National Accountability Bureau (NAB) chairman and other departments concerned have been named respondents in the petition. “According to law, the interior secretary has the right to place names on the ECL,” the petitioner stated in his plea. He contended that names were not included or excluded from the ECL even on court orders which further complicated the ECL mechanism. He pleaded to the court to clarify the procedure of inclusion and removal of the names from the ECL. Published in Daily Times, February 2nd 2019.