The federal cabinet's decision on removal of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's name from the Exist Control List (ECL) is completely silent on duration of one-time permission and amount of surety or indemnity bond, well-informed sources in Interior Ministry told Business Recorder. On November 12, 2019, Interior Division informed the Cabinet that the cases pertaining to placement/removal of the name of persons on/from ECL are dealt with under Exit from Pakistan (Control), 1981 Exit from Pakistan (Control) Rules, 2010 and ECL Policy 2015.

Shahbaz Sharif's application of November 7, 2019 for removal of name of Nawaz Sharif from ECL was received on November 8, 2019. It stated that Nawaz has been under treatment for a sudden and unexplained decrease in his blood platelets count. His doctors have advised that he may be immediately taken to a specialized centre abroad for a conclusive diagnosis.

The request and medical report of Sharif Medical Complex were forwarded to Health Department Government of Punjab and National Accountability Bureau (NAB) for their views/comments in order to deliberate upon the issue.

A meeting of the Cabinet Committee Sub-Committee on ECL was held on November 12, 2019 in the committee room of Law and Justice Division.

During the meeting, Secretary Health Department Government, Convener of the Medical Board, representative of NAB and representative of Shahbaz Sharif explained their points of view and after a thorough discussion, the committee agreed with the recommendations of the Medical Board regarding the critical nature of the disease of Nawaz Sharif and recommended to the Cabinet: (i) a one-time permission may be granted to him to travel abroad; (ii) representative of the Leader of Opposition should convey the period of the one-time permission; and (iii) submission of a surety or indemnity bond.

After a detailed discussion submitted to the Interior Division, the Cabinet approved the recommendations of the Cabinet Sub-Committee, along with the following conditions prescribed therein: (i) a one-time permission may be granted to him to travel abroad; and (ii) submission of a surety or indemnity bond.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019