Islamabad: The Pakistani Supreme Court on Wednesday indefinitely adjourned a government appeal against a high court order for removal of former president Pervez Musharraf’s name from the official Exit Control List (ECL) barring specified persons from leaving the country.
The federal government had filed an appeal against a Sindh High Court (SHC) decision that the former president’s name be deleted from the ECL.
A five-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Nasirul Mulk, adjourned the case indefinitely on the request of Musharraf’s counsel.
Earlier, Musharraf’s legal team submitted an application to the court requesting the adjournment of the case, while citing the busy court schedule of Musharraf’s lawyer, who is appearing before a special court in the treason case against the former president.
Monday, the federal government submitted the records of cases pending against Musharraf in different courts. The ex-president is currently living in southern port city of Karachi.
Musharraf addressed his supporters via video link on Wednesday to mark the foundation day of his political party, All Pakistan Muslim League.
Referring to the current political crisis amid ongoing sit-ins near the parliament in Islamabad by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT), he said there was need for a political change.
He said a third political force was needed to counter the two parties — Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and Pakistan People’s Party — which have been taking turns to govern the country.
“I can see that change is coming in Pakistan. It is like writing on the wall,” he said.
“Some people are talking about technocrat set-up, some about caretaker set-up and others talk about national government,” he said, adding there was need to make reforms before going to elections again.
“In my opinion, Pakistan’s future is dark if change doesn’t happen,” he asserted.
