ZW News HD
Related Articles
Justice Azam Khan says putting people on a list limits their basic right to move freely.
BY Mahnoor | 06-May-2026
This undated picture shows YouTuber Rajab Butt. — Instagram/@Rajab.butt94
- Judge Azam Khan releases a six-page long, thorough decision.
- Judge says power must be used fairly and legally.
- Court says power to add names to a list is not unrestricted.
The Islamabad High Court ordered that YouTuber Rajab Butt be taken off the list that prevents him from leaving the country. The court told authorities to do this quickly, unless there’s another legal reason to stop him.
Judge Muhammad Azam Khan stated in a six-page decision that the power to put names on the Exit Control List (ECL) is not absolute and must be used justly and legally.
The court noted that putting someone’s name on the list greatly limits their right to travel freely. It stressed that these limits need strong, valid reasons.
The decision also said that names are put on the PCL mainly to make sure people show up for investigations or in court.
Once that goal is reached, keeping the restriction is no longer needed, it stated.
The court told the authorities to take Butt’s name off the list, unless there’s another legal reason or court order stopping them.
The Islamabad High Court’s decision is close to a Karachi court taking away his temporary protection from arrest in a case about insulting religion.
Butt’s bail was cancelled because he didn’t show up in court.
Besides the speech case that caused a lot of debate, Butt is also charged in another case for advertising gambling and betting apps.
Last September, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) charged the YouTuber with advertising gambling and betting apps.
The police report says Butt used social media videos and ads to get people to put money into gambling and betting apps, which made them lose their savings.
