The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered the removal of YouTuber Rajab Butt’s name from the passport control list (PCL), directing authorities to act immediately unless any separate legal restriction is in place.
In a six-page verdict, Justice Muhammad Azam Khan ruled that the power to place individuals on the PCL is not absolute and must be exercised in a fair and lawful manner.
The court observed that inclusion on the list directly impacts a person’s fundamental right to freedom of movement, stressing that such restrictions must be backed by strong and justifiable reasons.
It further noted that the primary purpose of placing a name on the PCL is to ensure an individual’s appearance before investigative agencies or courts. Once that objective is fulfilled, continuing the restriction serves no valid purpose.
The court directed authorities to remove Butt’s name, provided there is no other legal bar or court order preventing the move.
The ruling comes days after a sessions court in Karachi revoked Butt’s interim pre-arrest bail in a case related to allegedly hurting religious sentiments, after he failed to appear before the court.
Butt is also facing another case involving allegations of promoting gambling and betting applications. In September last year, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) registered a case against him, accusing him of using social media content and advertisements to encourage people to invest in such platforms, allegedly leading to financial losses.