Pakistan government won’t renew Nawaz Sharif’s passport : Sheikh Rashid

Islamabad : The Pakistan government said on Tuesday that it would not renew the passport of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is currently living in London.

Pakistan Home Minister Sheikh Rashid made this announcement on the eve of the expiry of Sharif’s passport. However, he said that if he wants to come back, the government can issue a special certificate to help him come back.

He said that his passport will expire at midnight tonight. If he wants to come to Pakistan, a special certificate can be issued to him at his request.

Giving reasons for refusing to renew the passport, the minister said that Sharif’s name is on the flight-restricted (no-fly) list and he refused to return despite court orders.

Rashid told the media here that the names of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz have been in the Exit Control List (ECL) since August 20, 2018. Those whose names are in ECL are not issued passports nor renewed.

He said that the Islamabad High Court had ordered Sharif to return but the former Prime Minister did not comply.

The 70-year-old Sharif, who heads the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), has been living in London since November last year, when the Lahore High Court allowed him to go abroad for four weeks for treatment.