LAHORE: Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) member Maleeka Ali Bokhari expressed gratitude to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz for promptly facilitating the removal of her name from the exit control list (ECL), commonly known as the no-fly list, enabling her to visit her ailing sister in Australia.
Maleeka had appealed directly to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to grant her permission to visit her sister, who she described as a maternal figure, in Australia. Her sister had suffered a brain haemorrhage and was in critical condition.
Responding to Maleeka’s plea, Maryam assured her through her social media account that she would personally address the matter with the relevant authorities.
“Let me engage with the relevant authorities, Maleeka. I trust you have formally submitted your request. May Allah grant your sister a speedy recovery,” Maryam tweeted.
Shortly afterward, Maleeka expressed her appreciation to Maryam for her assistance, stating, “Thank you for your prompt action. I have been informed that my name has been removed from the no-fly list.”
In May 2023, following the May 9 incident, during which violent protests erupted following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in the Al-Qadir Trust case, hundreds of PTI leaders and former assembly members, including Imran Khan, were placed on the ECL.
Their inclusion on the no-fly list was a precautionary measure to facilitate investigation into their alleged involvement in the violent riots of May 9, 2023, which resulted in significant damage to public and private property, particularly properties associated with the military.
In her appeal, Maleeka underscored her rights as a Pakistani citizen, citing the fundamental right to freedom of movement and travel guaranteed by the constitution. She emphasized the critical condition of her elder sister and her desire to be by her side.
“My sister, who has no political affiliations, is like a mother to me, and I am desperate to see her in person one last time. Despite being placed on an unlawful no-fly list by PM Shehbaz and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for a year now, I urge the state and @CMShehbaz to grant me a one-time permission to be with my sister. This is not just a matter of my fundamental rights; it is also guided by our religious, ethical, and legal principles,” she stated, while tagging Shehbaz’s Twitter account.
(Islamabad51_Newsdesk)
