'Absconder' Nawaz Sharif's passport can not be renewed: Interior Ministry
The ministry cited a number of reasons and directed Pak High Commission in London to stop process.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The Ministry of Interior on Tuesday rejected an application by former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif for renewal of his passport as he has been declared a “proclaimed offender” by the Islamabad High Court and was wanted in several other ongoing cases.
The official passport of the former prime minister, who was allowed to go to London, seemingly for some medical treatment, expired early this year and he formally lodged an application with the Pakistan High Commission in London for renewal of his diplomatic passport.
The Ministry of Interior in a two-page letter to the High Commission, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has cited a number of reasons and directed Pakistan High Commission in London to stop further process.
According to the letter; “Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif has been declared a proclaimed offender by Islamabad High Court in Criminal Appeal No. 1/2019, titled, “Mian Nawaz Vs NAB”, as well as in Reference No. 6/2020, namely, Toshakhana Reference by the Accountability Court No. 3 of Islamabad.
Similarly, he has been declared a proclaimed offender in the case of Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman by the Accountability Court of Lahore.
The Ministry of Interior said Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was therefore required to return to Pakistan and appear before the courts to face charges.
“He being a fugitive of law and absconder cannot seek any further relief unless he surrenders before the Courts in Pakistan,” the letter states.
The letter dated March 16 has been sent with a covering letter, dated March 17 to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for onwards transmission to the Pakistan High Commission in London.
