ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday awarded certificates of appreciation to the officers of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for foiling Rao Anwar's attempt to flee from the country. 

Anwar is wanted in an inquiry into the extrajudicial murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud, a 27-year-old native of Waziristan who was among four suspected terrorists killed in an ?exchange of fire? with a police team on January 13 in Shah Latif Town, Karachi.

FIR registered against Rao Anwar, name added to ECL after SC takes notice of attempt to go abroad

Anwar's name was earlier placed on ECL on SC's orders

The minister appreciated the alertness, dedication and honesty of the FIA officers and called upon all civil servants to perform their duties with full devotion and according to the law.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rao Anwar was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) on the orders of the Supreme Court after it took notice of his reported attempt to leave the country.

According to details, Rao Anwar entered the Rawal Lounge at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport at 1:02 AM (Tuesday) and presented his documents to the FIA official at the immigration counter.

Prior to this, he had received his boarding pass through an accomplice who also had his luggage loaded.

When Anwar reached the FIA counter, the immigration official asked for his no-objection certificate (NOC) allowing him to travel abroad. Rao Anwar who did not have the NOC presented a letter for leave issued by the Chief Secretary Sindh. The immigration official then called the shift-in-charge who also demanded to see Rao Anwar's NOC.

Anwar remained at the airport for two hours and despite pressure from different officials, FIA immigration staff at the airport maintained that he would not be allowed to leave until a NOC was presented.