Balochistan High Court Declares Inclusion of Akhtar Mengal in PNIL Unconstitutional, Orders Removal from Travel Ban List
Quetta: In a landmark ruling, the **Balochistan High Court (BHC)** has declared the inclusion of senior nationalist politician and **BNP Chief Akhtar Mengal** in the **Provisional National Identification List (PNIL)** as **illegal, unconstitutional, and void**.
A division bench comprising **Chief Justice Rozi Khan Barrech** and **Justice Sardar Ahmed Halimi** stated that no citizen can be deprived of their fundamental right to free movement without due process of law.
Mengal was stopped from traveling to Dubai for medical treatment on **July 20, 2025**, after being informed that his name had been placed on the PNIL without any prior notice or explanation.
The court observed that the government respondents failed to produce any **legal framework or written approval** justifying the PNIL, ruling that the move violated **Articles 4, 9, 10-A, 15, and 25 of the Constitution**.
The bench ordered the **immediate removal of Akhtar Mengal’s name** from the PNIL as well as from all other travel restriction lists. The case was represented by **Advocate Sajid Tareen**.
Do you want me to also prepare a **short explainer piece** on what the PNIL is and how it differs from the Exit Control List (ECL)?
