Travel ban on Pak defence minister

Arrest warrants have been issued against Pakistan interior minister, Rehman Malik, while the country’s defence minister has been barred from leaving the country owing to cases pending against him following the striking down of the controversial NRO, which allowed these persons immunity from persecution.

Arrest warrants have been issued against Pakistan interior minister, Rehman Malik, while the country’s defence minister has been barred from leaving the country owing to cases pending against him following the striking down of the controversial National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO), which allowed these persons immunity from persecution.

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Defence Minister Ahmed Mukhtar, his wife and secretary were barred from boarding a PIA flight for Beijing at the Islamabad Airport because his name had been put on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Later, after a late night meeting with President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani suspended the Interior Secretary and three other officials for the incident.

The interior ministry had put on the ECL the names of beneficiaries of the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) on the National Accountability Bureau’s request in compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders.

Mukhtar, his wife Nilofer Mukhtar and his secretary were stopped by immigration staff when they were going to board the flight. The Chinese ambassador was also at the airport to see off the minister. The defence minister was scheduled to leave for a three-day official visit to China.

Mukhtar said it was “shameful that the Naval chief had been allowed to go to China, while the defence minister had been prevented from leaving.”

He said he had been acquitted in both cases initiated against him and one pertaining to sugar quota had been at the stage of an inquiry for 14 years.