Pakistan to keep Sharif exit bar on

Islamabad, Feb. 10: The Pakistan government on Saturday rejected former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter and son- in- law’s requests seeking removal of their names from the Exit Control List ( ECL), which is preventing them from flying abroad.

In October last year, Sharif, his daughter Maryam and son- in- law Mohammad Safdar had separately applied to the Interior Ministry seeking removal of their names from the ECL, the Geo News reported.

In their petitions, the trio argued that the Exit From Pakistan Rules 2010 did not apply to them as they were not involved in corruption, misuse of authority, terrorism or conspiracy and their names be removed.

The Ministry of Interior rejected the petitions of Nawaz, Maryam and Capt ( retd) Safdar, the report said quoting sources.

The decision to place names of the Sharif family on ECL was taken on August 20 last year during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

In July 2018, an accountability court in Islamabad convicted Sharif, Maryam and Safdar in the Avenfield properties case and sentenced them to prison terms of 11 years, eight years and one year, respectively.