ISLAMABAD – The name of leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, Shehbaz Sharif has been placed on the Exit Control List, barring him from leaving the country.
The decision to enforce travel restrictions on former chief minister Punjab was ratified by the federal cabinet on Thursday and was confirmed by Information Minister, Fawad Chaudhry as well.
National Accountability Bureau had sought to place the name of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz president on ECL as he is facing multiple cases still under scrutiny.
‘The accused has accumulated assets beyond his known sources of income through corruption & corrupt practices,’ NAB stated in its request.
On Thursday, the summary in this regard was approved by the cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Sharif’s name was already placed on the provisional national identification list (PNIL) or ‘stop list’ on Tuesday which meant that he could not travel for atleast 30 days, however, the government has now placed him on ECL.
The development comes amid reports that Shehbaz was scheduled to travel to London to inquire after his ailing granddaughter – Hamza Shehbaz’ daughter – who was diagnosed with a cardiac disease and operated on last week.
Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz spokesperson Mariyum Aurangzeb had earlier clarified that the doctor of Shehbaz Sharif had advised him against travelling abroad owing to ache in the back.
Shehbaz Sharif is under the radar of NAB and was arrested on October 6, 2018, in the Ashiana Iqbal housing scheme case.
The legislator secured bail from the Lahore High Court in Ashiana Iqbal Housing Scheme and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases.
