LHC issues notices on petition seeking placement of Nawaz on ECL

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday issued notices to the federation and Interior Ministry and sought their replies by August 25 over a petition seeking the placement of the name of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on the Exit Control List (ECL).

The petitioner, Barrister Javed Iqbal, argued in the hearing conducted by Justice Mamoon-ur-Rasheed that Nawaz might try to flee the country due to the investigation against him by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in light of the July 28 Panama Papers verdict.

The former prime minister was disqualified by the Supreme Court in its verdict and had ordered to file references against him, after which NAB summoned him and his sons and daughter. 

The Sharifs, however, failed to appear before the bureau; therefore there is a possibility Nawaz would try to flee abroad, the petition said.

Sharif was disqualified under Article 62 (1) (f) of the Constitution over his failure to disclose un-withdrawn receivables constituting assets from a UAE-based company. 

The court also ordered references against the Sharif family members and other accused in accountability courts.