Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday suspended the order for putting the names of aides of ex-prime minister Imran Khan on the stop list.

The names of prime minister’s former principal secretary Azam Khan, ex-special assistant to prime minister (SAPM) on political communication Shahbaz Gill, ex-adviser to PM on interior and accountability Shahzad Akbar, Imran’s ex-focal person on digital media Dr Arslan Khalid, and Mohammad Nafees Gohar were put on the stop list suddenly even before Shehbaz Sharif took oath as the prime minister.

The high court presided over the petition filed by Gill and Akbar.

During the hearing, IHC Chief Justice Athar Minallah remarked that the court had already declared the stop list illegal.

Akbar said his name was put on the list at 1:57am on April 10. He also presented the screenshots of the list and urged that Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director-general (DG) should be asked on whose orders his name was put there.

The former adviser maintained that his name could be put on the list if he had committed a heinous crime and that too even when an institute gives an application.

Read more: Shahzad Akbar, Shahbaz Gill wonder who put them on stop list

At this, the chief justice said they had already given a verdict against this according to which such practice cannot be done.

The court asked Akbar why he did not fix such things, although he was in-charge of FIA.

At this, the former adviser responded that he was a special assistant and did not possess executive powers in light of IHC’s order.

The court issued notices to the interior ministry secretary and FIA DG and suspended the ban against the petitioners as well as Azam Khan, Dr Arslan Khalid, and Mohammad Nafees Gohar.