NAB’s appeal to put Sharif, Maryam, Cpt (r) Safdar’s name in ECL rejected

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Interior Ministry on Tuesday refused to put the names of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar in the Exit Control List (ECL). Sources said that a letter was written to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) asking the authorities to provide legal justification to put the names of Sharif family in the ECL. The interior ministry has decided not to include Nawaz Sharif, his daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar’s name in the ECL until the orders of the court, sources added. On Wednesday, the anti-graft watchdog had recommended the Interior Ministry to put the names of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, hi daughter Maryam Nawaz and son-in-law Captain (r) Safdar on the Exit Control List (ECL). The development of the country’s anti-graft watchdog had come at a time when the Bureau’s reference against Sharif family is in final stages. Previously, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had filed three cases of corruption and money laundering against Sharif, his family members and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar in the Islamabad Accountability Court following the verdict. The anti-graft body NAB had frozen the bank accounts and seized properties of Sharif and his family members to put pressure on them to appear before the court. The Sharifs have denied any wrongdoing and have labeled the corruption proceedings against them as politically motivated. Two of Nawaz’s sons are also due to appear before the NAB court, along with Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Nawaz was disqualified by the Supreme Court in July for not declaring a source of income that he disputes receiving. Pakistan’s top court also ordered a wide-ranging NAB investigation and trial into Sharif family members. The Supreme Court specified that the trial be concluded within six months by NAB, which has in the past been derided as toothless because rich and powerful politicians were seldom convicted.