Pakistan Government files petitions in SC for early hearing of Musharraf ECL case

The Pakistan Government has filed two separate petitions before the Supreme Court against removing the name of former president General (retired) Pervez Musharraf from the Exit Control List (ECL).

According to a Daily Times report, it has also appealed against the Sindh High Court's verdict about removing Musharraf's name from the ECL.

A three-member apex court bench headed by Justice Saqib Nisar and comprising of Justice Asif Saeed Khosa and Justice Ejaz Afzal was hearing the federal government's petition.

Pakistan's Attorney General Salman Butt pleaded with the court for the early hearing of the federal plea, and said if the Sindh High Court gives its verdict over a review petition of the former president Musharraf earlier, he will leave the country.

The former military leader's lawyers have filed a review petition with the high court, seeking reduction in the number of days given to the government for appeal to three.

Justice Saqib, in his remarks, said the Supreme Court has nothing to do with the nature of the decision over the review petition. Whether the matter relates with Musharraf or a common man it is the same for the court, he observed.

The three-judge apex court bench then referred the matter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) for the constitution of a new bench for hearing the federal government's plea.