The Exit Control Lists (ECL; Urdu: ای سی ایل) is a system of border control maintained by the Government of Pakistan under the Exit from Pakistan (Control) Ordinance.This Ordinance may be called the Exit from Pakistan (Control) Ordinance, 1981. Those persons on the list are prohibited from leaving Pakistan.[1]
Exit Control List | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | ECL |
Agency overview | |
Formed | 1981 |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Operations jurisdiction | Pakistan |
Legal jurisdiction | Constitution of Pakistan |
Governing body | Government of Pakistan |
Constituting instrument |
|
Operational structure | |
Headquarters | Pak Secretariat Islamabad, Capital Territory |
Parent agency | Ministry of Interior (Pakistan) Federal Investigation Agency |
Priorities
1. Exit from Pakistan (Control) Ordinance, 1981, empowers the Federal Government to prohibit any person from proceeding abroad. Ordinarily following categories of persons are placed on ECL:-
- (a) Persons involved in mass corruption and misuse of power / authority causing loss to the government funds/property.
- (b) Government employees involved in economic crime where large government funds have been embezzled or institutional frauds committed.
- c) Hardened criminals involved in acts of terrorism and conspiracy.
- (d) Key directors of firms having tax default / liabilities of Rs. 10 million or more.
- (e) Only 2 -3 key directors of firms having more than Rs. 100 million loan default / liabilities.
- (f) Names of persons if recommended by the Registrar, High Courts / Supreme Court of Pakistan and Banking Courts only.
- (g) Drug traffickers.
2. The On-Line System is operational at the Ministry linked with international airports at Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar, Islamabad and Faisalabad. 3. Any person aggrieved by the order of Federal Government regarding placement of his name on ECL, can under the law, file a Review Petition giving justifications for review and also can seek a personal hearing with the competent authority. 4. ECL is reviewed periodically to assess the need for further retention of a person on ECL.
Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was responsible for control on Exit Control List but now this responsibility has been shifted to Ministry of Interior and thus avoiding the previously experienced complications in this regard.
References
- ^ Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (2006). State of human rights in Pakistan. Human Rights Commission of Pakistan. Retrieved 3 March 2011.
Exit from Pakistan (Control) Ordinance, 1981