NAB throws the ball in federal govt’s court regarding Nawaz’s removal from ECL – Pakistan

The National Office of Accountability (NAB) threw the ball on Monday to the federal government court regarding the removal of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's name from the Exit Control List (ECL), saying it was the "competent authority" to handle such matters.

The development came hours after the main government spokesman, Dr. Firdous Ashiq Awan, said that the decision to remove Nawaz's name from the air exclusion list will be taken in light of the NAB recommendations and the medical board

In a response submitted to the Ministry of Interior, NAB said "the federal government is the competent authority to eliminate the names of the ECL," said Asim Ali Nawazish, a spokesman for the office. DawnNewsTV.

NAB also stated that there were precedents in the past, even in the case of the convicted murderer and former MQM worker Saulat Mirza, in which the federal government had removed the names of the ECL convicts without asking NAB, the spokesperson added.

Earlier in the day, NAB had said that it had received Nawaz's medical reports from the Ministry of Interior and that he would issue his opinion in accordance with the law.

"After due process [we] will give our opinion under the law in due course, "said a spokesman for the responsibility regulator DawnNewsTV.

& # 39; The government does not place names in ECL & # 39;

Awan, the special assistant to the prime minister of information, had presented the procedure for the removal of names from the ECL the day before.

"The government itself does not place the name of any individual on the ECL. The names are placed on the ECL according to the recommendations given by the NAB and the courts. Now that a request has been submitted for the name to be deleted, it is being followed the same process, "he told the media after his hearing in the High Court of Islamabad in a contempt case.

"Hopefully, today we will receive the recommendations of NAB. […] NAB is the plaintiff in this case, he (Nawaz) is a suspect in [a case being probed by] NAB and was convicted by an accountability court.

"Secondly, the recommendations attached with the application submitted are made by a medical board of Sharif Medical City. The government does not make decisions in the light of the instructions of a private medical board, it was important to take the opinion of the medical board of the government. "

Awan said the reports of the NAB and the medical board were delayed due to the weekend and added that a review committee in the law ministry would "analyze" the opinions of both bodies, after which the matter would be sent to the cabinet .

Meanwhile, speaking with the media in Lahore, the governor of Punjab, Chaudhry Sarwar, said he has personally contacted all relevant institutions regarding the legalities that must be issued to send the former prime minister abroad.

"I personally contacted all the relevant institutions and I believe that today his name will be removed from the ECL and he [Nawaz] You can travel wherever you want, "said the governor.

Sarwar added that after the medical board said Nawaz should go abroad, the government took a very clear position that sending it abroad as soon as possible is better, since they do not want to take any risks with regard to the former former's health. Minister.

PML-N expresses concern about the delay in the removal of ECL

PML-N spokesman Marriyum Aurangzeb expressed concern about the delay in removing Nawaz's name from the ECL.

In a statement issued today, Aurangzeb said the government-formed medical board had already recommended that Nawaz be sent abroad for treatment as soon as possible. She said the medical board had also recommended sending him abroad after a meeting last night.

Aurangzeb said that once the name of the former ECL prime minister is removed, other arrangements will begin, such as organizing an air ambulance and sending the prime minister abroad.

She said the delay in removing Nawaz's name from the ECL represents a threat to her life.

In a second statement issued later, Aurangzeb revealed that an air ambulance had been organized to take the former prime minister abroad. He will arrive in the country on Wednesday, he added.

She said doctors will perform medical procedures tomorrow to bring Nawaz platelet counts to an acceptable level to travel.

Also on Monday, Nawaz's personal doctor, Dr. Adnan Khan, said any delay in sending the former prime minister abroad could increase the risk to his health.

Medical board requested detailed report

Meanwhile, at a press conference, Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmeen Rashid said that a request had been submitted to the Ministry of Interior to allow Nawaz to go abroad for treatment.

After this, the interior ministry had written to the ministry of health asking them to obtain the opinion of the medical board. In response to this, the board said they had written a summary of the discharge and provided all the details of the tests to be carried out, adding that [interior ministry] They must act as they see fit.

However, the interior ministry said they wanted a particular detailed report on whether Nawaz should be sent abroad or not.

He said the board met last night and, according to his analysis, they feel that because the condition of the former prime minister is not stabilizing and there may be evidence that cannot be done in Pakistan, they recommend that it be sent abroad.

Rashid said the health ministry had written to the medical board informing them that they had found some shortcomings in the report and that they could not send it to the interior ministry.

They had told the board to provide details of "each test or intervention required with the risk factor involved to be specifically mentioned."

The provincial health minister said they asked the board about what tests can be performed in public sector hospitals in Pakistan and which not. In addition, they asked what evidence can be sent abroad and why Nawaz is a high-risk patient.

In response to a question about whether there was pressure on the medical board, Rashid said: "Being a doctor myself […] When I read the report, I felt it was insufficient.

"We have not exercised any political pressure on anyone. I think the board is completely independent, you can ask any member of the board."

Nawaz's request to go abroad

Nawaz was rushed from Kot Lakhpat prison to the hospital last month after his personal doctor, Dr. Adnan Khan, warned of his deteriorated health. Doctors have been struggling to get their platelet count, which had been reduced to dangerous levels, back to normal.

The president of PML-N, Shehbaz Sharif, had submitted a request last week to the Ministry of Interior, as well as to NAB, for the removal of Nawaz's name from the ECL so that the former prime minister could travel abroad for treatment doctor. Nawaz has been diagnosed with an immune system disorder and his condition is said to be "extremely critical."

“Nawaz Sharif finally agreed to go to London after doctors told him categorically that they had already exhausted all medical treatment. [options] available in Pakistan and traveling abroad is the only option left, "said a source from the Sharif family Dawn Thursday.

In a statement, the Interior Ministry said last week that it had sent Nawaz's health reports received from Sharif Medical City, Lahore to the "Permanent Medical Board" for input and review.

The statement says that the ministry took all necessary measures taking into account the urgency of the matter as stated by Shehbaz in his request.

There were reports that the former prime minister could leave for London today; however, the procedure to remove your name from the air exclusion list remains incomplete. In addition, their platelet count remained unstable and, according to Aurangzeb, doctors continued to fight for their platelet levels to reach the mark required to travel.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Sunday that the "legal obstacles" to Sharif's departure were being removed because doctors stressed that medical treatment was needed abroad to save his life.

"The government has given importance to the opinion of doctors," Qureshi told reporters in Multan.

"We pray to God for his recovery, to return in good health and participate in politics," he added.

Nawaz, who was jailed after an accountability court found him guilty in Al Azizia's corruption referral, received bail from the Islamabad High Court for humanitarian reasons. He also obtained a bond in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case, in which he is a suspect, from Lahore High Court.

Nawaz's daughter, Maryam, will not be able to accompany her father abroad as she had to give her passport to secure her bail in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.