ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Defence has opposed the removal of former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) director general retired Lt Gen Asad Durrani’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL).
The ministry in its written response to a petition filed by Durrani at the Islamabad High Court said that it has evidence that suggests that the former serviceman remained in contact with the Indian spy agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW).
In addition, the ministry told the court that it has evidence and solid information that recommends Durrani has been in contact with anti-state elements from other countries since 2008.
“Rule 2(c) of the Exit from Pakistan (Control) Rules, 2010, authorized the federal government to prohibit a person from exiting Pakistan for a foreign destination if the said person is involved in ‘acts of terrorism or its conspiracy’, ‘heinous crimes’ and ‘threatening national security,” according to the ministry’s reply.
Furthermore, it said Articles 15 and 19 of the Constitution clearly stated that the “freedom of movement and freedom of speech is subject to any reasonable restrictions imposed by the law in the public interest and integrity, security or defense of Pakistan”.
The former ISI director-general had moved that high court seek the removal of his name for the ECL stating that he wants to go abroad.
In 2018, the Military Intelligence had written a letter to the ministry of interior to put Durrani’s name on the ECL for co-authoring a book The Spy Chronicles with former Indian spymaster Amarjit Singh Dulat.
In May 2018, Durrani was summoned to the Pakistan Army’s General Headquarters (GHQ) where he was asked to explain his position on views attributed to him in the book.
The ISPR said in 2019 that Durrani has been found guilty of violating the military code of conduct after he co-authored the book.
