Govt, NAB both hesitant to take Nawaz Sharif's name off no-fly list

The federal government and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) are both hesitant to take off Nawaz Sharif's name from the Exit Control List (ECL), a move that could hinder the former prime minister from flying to London next week to seek further treatment.

Sources confirmed to Geo News on Saturday that instead of taking Sharif's name off the ECL, NAB has sent a written reply to the interior ministry. The government and NAB, sources claimed, are not willing to take the responsibility of taking his name off the ECL.

The government is also refraining from using its authority to take Sharif's name off the list, however, the sources added that in the past, the interior ministry took off several names from the no-fly list without taking accountability watchdog into confidence.

The medical board formed by the government had earlier suggested allowing the ailing former prime minister to seek medical treatment abroad.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif had filed a request on Friday, urging the government to take Nawaz's name off the ECL.

The former prime minister was shifted to an intensive care unit (ICU) set up at his Jati Umra residence from the Services Hospital where he had suffered an angina attack, besides complaints of bleeding from gums and some other parts, because of his fluctuating platelets.

The Islamabad High Court had last week granted bail to Sharif for eight weeks, suspending his seven-year sentence in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills corruption reference on medical grounds. Earlier, he had also secured bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case from the Lahore High Court on the same ground.