Interior Ministry removes Nawaz Sharif's name from ECL
His name has been removed from the ECL after the Lahore High Court (LHC) verdict.
ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – Interior Ministry has on Monday removed the name of former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif from the Exit Control List (ECL).
His name has been removed from the ECL after the Lahore High Court (LHC) while rejecting the objection by federal government on its proposed draft, on November 16 ordered to remove name of former premier from the ECL and allowed him to travel abroad to get health treatment for four weeks. A two-member bench of LHC comprising Justice Ali Baqir Najfi and Justice Sardar Naeem gave the verdict after hearing the petition filed by PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif on the matter.
The court rejected the condition of indemnity bond to be submitted by Nawaz Sharif.
The federal government had set condition for Nawaz Sharif to pay Rs7 billion surety bond if he wants to travel abroad for medical treatment. The government had also given only one time four-week permission to ailing Sharif to get his medical treatment in London.
Meanwhile, preparations for the former prime minister’s departure for London to receive medical treatment have been finalized and the PML-N supremo is likely to fly on Tuesday (tomorrow).
According to details, an air ambulance will arrive in Lahore from Qatar on November 19. The erstwhile premier’s medication has been changed to enable him to travel. Nawaz Sharif will be shifted to the Harley Street Clinic in London immediately after landing.
With the flying fuel of 10 hours and two pilots, the air ambulance will be equipped with oxygen cylinders, ventilators, ICU and other medical facilities, while two doctors, including Sharif’s personal physician Dr Adnan, and paramedics will also assist the PML-N supremo during his travel.
PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb said in her statement that Nawaz Sharif will depart abroad on Tuesday with prayers of 22 crore people.
“We shall warmly welcome Nawaz Sharif when he returns to Pakistan after recuperating. The government should turn its focus to serve people instead of getting jealous of Nawaz and Shehbaz Sharif.”
It is pertinent here to mention that the Lahore High Court had on Saturday ordered to remove Sharif’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) without any conditionality and allowed him to travel abroad to get health treatment for four weeks. The court had rejected an objection made by the federal government over PML-N’s proposed draft.
On the other hand, Prime Minister Imran Khan directed the government’s legal team to analyze the decision of the Lahore High Court and submit a report to the federal cabinet.
The premier also asked the legal team to brief the cabinet over the verdict. The government would then decide whether to appeal against the LHC’s decision or not.
