ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that the name of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif has been put on the Exit Control List (ECL) after the Federal Cabinet’s approval.
While addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Monday, the minister said that a notification to this effect has been issued and the relevant departments have been informed about it accordingly.
Sheikh Rashid pointed out that the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had recommended to put Shahbaz Sharif name on the ECL as it was investigating a corruption case of Rs 7 billion against him.
کابینہ کی منظوری اور قانونی ضابطے مکمل ہونے پر نون لیگ کے رہنما شہباز شریف کا نام ایگزٹ کنٹرول لسٹ پر ڈال دیا گیا ہے اور متعلقہ ریکارڈ اس ضمن میں اپ ڈیٹ کر دیا گیا ہے
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) May 17, 2021
Citing the reasons for adding Shahbaz Sharif’s name to the ECL, Sheikh Rashid said that five members of the Sharif family are already absconders and residing in London. He said that it would have been difficult to bring Shahbaz Sharif back home like his elder brother if he was also allowed to travel abroad.
The interior minister said that there was also a possibility that he could temper the evidence or use the influence on the approvers in the case if he was permitted to leave the Country.
The minister recalled that Shahbaz Sharif was the guarantor to bring Nawaz Sharif back home. However, he added that instead of bringing his brother back, Shahbaz Sharif himself was trying to flee the Country.
Sheikh Rashid said that Shahbaz Sharif has not submitted any medical documents about his health condition or disease.
Responding to a question, Sheikh Rashid said that the PML-N president can file a review application on the matter with the Interior Ministry within 15 days.
