The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) is hesitant to take off former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL), Geo News claimed in a report on Saturday.
According to the report, instead of taking Nawaz’s name off the ECL, NAB has sent a written reply to the Interior Ministry seeking his medical reports issued by the government-formed board and Sharif Medical City. It added that both the government and NAB are not willing to take the responsibility of taking Nawaz’s name off the no-fly list.
The medical board formed by the government had suggested allowing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif to seek medical treatment abroad.
The report stated that while NAB has opted for delay tactics, the government is also refraining from using its authority to take Nawaz’s name off the list even though the Interior Ministry has taken off several names from ECL without taking NAB into confidence.
Meanwhile, sources claim that the former prime minister has booked a ticket for London on a Qatar Airways flight. He will leave for the United Kingdom on Monday and will be accompanied by his brother Shehbaz Sharif and physician Dr Adnan.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif had filed a request on Friday, urging the government to take Nawaz’s name off the ECL.
On Friday, PM’s Special Assistant Naeemul Haque said that the government had seen Nawaz’s reports. He said that the former prime minister was ill and the decision has been taken in light of it.
“It is the right of every Pakistani to have themselves treated as they see fit,” he said. “The government has no reservations over Nawaz seeking treatment abroad.”
Naeem said that it was up to the courts to decide how much time will be given to Nawaz to seek medical treatment.
“The court will decide as to how many times Nawaz can go abroad,” he said. “It is also up to the court to decide on how long Nawaz can stay abroad for medical treatment.”