Caretaker Law and Information Minister Ali Zafar said on Thursday that the placement of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz’s names on the Exit Control List (ECL) was under consideration but a decision on the matter would be taken upon their return to the country.
He was responding to a question during a press briefing.
Zafar, former president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, said the cabinet was the right forum to take a decision the matter, adding that a committee comprising ministers of Interior, Finance and Information was reviewing the matter.
The interim law minister said that it was not an appropriate time to take a decision on the matter since Sharif was abroad to visit his ailing wife.
The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) had requested the Interior ministry to put the names of Nawaz Sharif and Maryam Nawaz on ECL.
Speaking further at the press briefing, Ali Zafar said it was the constitutional obligation and duty of the caretaker government to hold elections on time. “There should be no confusion on the matter. Elections will be free, fair and transparent,” he said. Responding to another question, he said allegations by any political party on a public official for biasness needed to be given due consideration.
Published in Daily Times, June 22nd 2018.
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