Over 115 Pak politicians to be banned from leaving country

Over 115 Pak politicians to be banned from leaving country
AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE

ISLAMABAD, FEBRUARY 21: More than 115 Pakistani politicians are to be banned from leaving the country as part of the military government's efforts to tackle corruption, a report said on Tuesday.

Pakistan's Interior Ministry has drawn up the list after receiving reports from banks and "secret agencies", the State-run Associated Press of Pakistan said.

"The list, called `negative list,' included members of the suspended Senate, National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies," the news agency said.

When Army Chief General Pervez Musharraf seized power on October 12, 1998, he suspended the country's federal and provincial parliaments.

"The list is part of the existing exit control list and has been devised to keep strict vigil on those who have been defaulting on huge amounts and could be involved in illegal activities," the agency said.

Reports in Pak papers have said thousands of the nation's elite have been put on a nationwide exit control list banning them from leaving the country. Those namedincluded deposed premier Nawaz Sharif, on trial in Karachi and former prime minister Banazir Bhutto, who is now in London.

Meanwhile, Musharraf has "vowed to oppose Islamic extremism and terrorism" hoping United States President Bill Clinton will decide to visit Islamabad when he tours South Asia in March, the Washington Post reported on Tuesday. Musharraf gave this assurance during a meeting with US officials in Pakistan last month, the paper reported from Islamabad quoting unnamed sources.

Clinton is scheduled to visit India and Bangladesh from March 20 but the his visit to Pakistan is clouded in uncertainty because of US concerns over militant groups based in that country and the inability of its military rulers to specify a time-frame for a return to civilian rule following a coup last year.

Commanders meet
ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Army commanders on Monday opened a two-day meeting chaired by chief executive General Pervez Musharraf to discuss matters relating to security and nationaldefence, a military spokesman said. The meeting lasted around five hours, the spokesman said, adding that it would continue on Tuesday