Interior Minister Brig Ijaz Shah (retd) has referred Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif's application seeking removal of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif's name from Exit Control List (ECL) to National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and will make recommendation to the competent authority.

Sources said that the government is likely to remove name of ailing Sharif from no fly list in the next 48 hour. Shehbaz Sharif has filed an application in the Interior Ministry for removal of his elder brother's name from the ECL, they said.

An official said that Ministry of Interior received a formal application from Mian Shehbaz Sharif for removal of Sharif's name from ECL on health grounds and for treatment abroad.

The Ministry of Interior has referred the matter to NAB to which the removal request was also sent, he said, adding that ministry will make its recommendations to the competent authority in view of the facts and after consulting all stakeholders.

He said that health reports of Sharif received from Sharif Medical City, Lahore, have been forwarded to standing medical board for input and review. The Interior Ministry has taken all necessary actions keeping in view the urgency of the matter as pleaded by Shehbaz Sharif in his request. Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Naeem-ul-Haque reportedly said that the government has allowed Nawaz Sharif to go abroad for medical treatment, adding the government has seen Nawaz's medical reports. "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," he said. The Ministry of Interior had placed the name of Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz on the ECL in August 2018 following the recommendation of NAB.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019