Court gives government seven days on Maryam Nawaz’s ECL plea

In this file photo, Maryam Nawaz, right, daughter of ousted Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif, attends her father's press conference in Islamabad on May 10, 2018. (AFP)

• PLM-N vice president seeks removal from no-fly list to visit her father in UK
• Maryam is barred from leaving Pakistan following a request by the national anti graft body

LAHORE: A decision on the removal of Maryam Nawaz’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) has to be issued by the federal government within seven days, the Lahore High Court ruled on Monday.
The daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is also the vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), submitted a petition to the court on Saturday, requesting that her name be removed from the ECL and passport temporarily returned, enabling her to meet the ailing father who has been undergoing treatment in the UK.
A bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi said Maryam Nawaz should exercise her right to appeal for the ECL removal to the federal government.
The government placed Maryam’s name on the no-fly list following a request by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in August.
According to PML-N leadership, Maryam Nawaz has not been involved in any corruption case and should be allowed to meet her ailing father.
“Maryam Nawaz is not involved in any corruption case. She has not held any public office and all the cases against her related to her inherited property. She must be allowed to go abroad. She should be given her legitimate right to take care of her ailing father,” PML-N, Punjab spokeswoman Azma Zahid Bokhari told Arab News.
Legal experts are of the view that the plea will be heard by the review committee and if it is rejected, Nawaz reserves the right to appeal the decision in court. 
“The court has changed the petition to a presentation against the federal government decision of putting Maryam Nawaz’s name on ECL and issued direction to review committee to decide the matter in seven days. The matter will be discussed in the committee and decision will be taken after hearing the party. Maryam can move to court again if the committee decides against her,” former Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali told Arab News.
Maryam Nawaz is currently free on bail in a corruption case related to Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM). Her father is serving a seven-year sentence on graft charges and was granted bail on health grounds.