Lahore High Court’s Chief Justice Aalia Neelum has sought a complete record from the Punjab government within 10 days of putting names into the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) to determine whether or not the names of criminals were included or all efforts were confined only to put the names of politicians.

On Tuesday, LHC CJ Neelum heard a petition challenging the inclusion of names in PNIL “unlawfully” by the FIA’s authority. The application, which was filed by Munir Ahmad through advocate Azhar Siddique, requested the court to restrain the authorities concerned from putting “names of citizens” into the PNIL.

At the outset of the proceeding, the counsel argued that the existence of PNIL was a “complete violation” of law. Names could be placed in the passport control list and exit control list of those the government wants to halt them to travel abroad, the lawyer argued.

The lawyer added that the PNIL was introduced for those allegedly involved in human trafficking cases. CJ Neelum remarked that the court should be informed about whose names were placed on the list. The court wanted to see that either the list belongs to criminals or just limited to politicians, she added.

According to the petition, ECL, PCL and PNIL laws were introduced to empower the interior ministry to supervise the movement of certain persons who are required in Pakistan to participate in some inquiry, investigation or legal proceedings, but, “there is the likelihood of such persons to wriggle out or slip away from the country.”

No specific enacted legislation pertaining to the PNIL in Pakistan exists, it said and added that various agencies such as police, Federal Investigation Agency, National Accountability Bureau, and Anti-Corruption Establishments were engaged in referring individuals to the respondents for inclusion on the PNIL.

It is “concerning that names are often added to the PNIL prima facie, without plausible reasons or justifications.” The petitioner urged the court that the procedure to put the na