ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s top court has turned down a petition filed by former Sindh Police officer Rao Anwar seeking removal of his name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar, dismissed the ex-Malir SSP’s petition on Thursday.
Rao Anwar had moved the apex court, requesting to travel to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and to meet his children.
He had appealed the apex court to direct the trial court to “regulate his movement abroad after removing his name from the ECL, contending that placing an accused on the ECL and curtaining their liberty was beyond the requirement of reasonable restrictions”.
The tainted former cop further stated that registering a case against the accused was not a valid reason for placing their name on the ECL, as “freedom of movement was a fundamental right”.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/naqeebullah-killing-escape-bid-by-rao-anwar-foiled-at-karachi-airport/
However, CJP Nisar rejected the petition and further directed the authorities to confiscate Anwar’s passport and remarked: “Rao Anwar is talking about travelling abroad. His passport should be confiscated. Tell his family to come here and meet him.”
The CJP also observed that “he (Rao Anwar) must want to transfer money abroad that he earned here.”
“He has killed a young boy. Until the trial is over, Rao Anwar will stay in Pakistan”.
Rao Anwar, who was known as the “encounter specialist” of the Sindh Police, retired on the first day of 2019 after serving 37 years in Sindh police department.
Anwar had joined Sindh police department as Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) in 1982 and was serving as Senior Superintendent of Police Malir.
https://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/pakistan/tainted-ssp-rao-anwar-retires-after-37-years/?fbclid=IwAR3I6eICFVBP3TQiMtfbMzxh7mqc4ZFG3L_kN8qnS7CWX2Ii6T4q4BzUeOQ
The former Malir SSP, along with 11 of his subordinates, is facing trial before an anti-terrorism court for allegedly killing 27-year-old Naqeebullah Mehsud from South Waziristan. The declared prime suspect had approached the apex court in December seeking removal of his name from the no-fly list.
Another case for possession of explosives and illegal weapons was also registered against Rao Anwar but is currently out on bail.
