Pak federal cabinet to put Sharif on ECL

Pakistan's newly sworn-in federal cabinet has taken a decision to put jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The cabinet held its first meeting on Monday and asked the law and interior ministries to issue red warrants against Sharif's sons, Hussain Nawaz and Hassan Nawaz and former Pakistan finance minister Ishaq Dar and bring them back to the country, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry said, Geo News reported.

He added that the law ministry has been asked to get in touch with the British government over the Avenfield properties in London. Chaudhry remarked that "Avenfield properties belonged to Pakistan."

Vowing to root out corruption from Pakistan, the minister continued, "Eliminating corruption is an important part of our [government's] policy."

Asked whether the cabinet discussed on former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, Chaudhry further said that the issue was not brought up during the meeting.

On July 6, Sharif and Maryam were convicted in absentia in the Avenfield reference case by the Accountability Court. While the former was given ten years of imprisonment and slapped with a fine of eight million pounds, Maryam was awarded eight years in jail and fined two million pounds. The case pertained to Sharif family's purchase of the upscale Avenfield apartments in London.

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