Maryam’s name will remain on ECL: Babar Awan

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided not to allow Maryam Nawaz, vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz and daughter of former premier Nawaz Sharif, to travel abroad and rejected her application in this regard.

Dr. Babar Awan on Sunday said that the rules concerning placement of the name of persons on Exit Control List (ECL) do not allow the government to entertain Maryam’s application to remove her name from the ECL.

READ MORE: ECL matter: Federal cabinet to decide fate of Maryam Nawaz

Federal Law Minister Farogh Naseem heads the subcommittee of the federal cabinet that deals with ECL cases which have rejected her plea, as she had sought the facility for flying to London to look after her ailing father, Dr Awan said.

“In fact, the subcommittee is part of the cabinet and a formal announcement to bar Maryam from traveling abroad will be made by the federal cabinet in its meeting on Tuesday,” Mr Awan said.

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf-led government also hinted at challenging the court’s decision in case the leader of the main opposition party was allowed by the judiciary to travel abroad. In a media talks, federal minister for water resources Faisal Vawda said that the government would challenge the decision of the court if Ms Nawaz was allowed to leave the country by any court.

The PM’s aide on legal affairs while referring to the Exit from Pakistan (Control) Rules, 2010, said in terms of sub-rule (a) of the rules even if a person having valid travel document to proceed to any destination outside Pakistan, the government could stop them from leaving the country for being involved in corruption and loss to government funds.

READ ALSO: Lifting name from ECL: LHC sets Dec 23 to hear Maryam’s plea

He said Ms Nawaz would not be allowed to proceed abroad as those involved in any economic crime, embezzlement of large government funds and institutional fraud could not get permission to leave the country.

While quoting rule 2 (c) of the said ECL Rules-2010, Dr Awan said a person who had been convicted by a competent court of law for any offense should remain on such list (ECL) so long as the said order was in force and till his/her conviction attained finality.

Earlier, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan after the Dec 18 meeting of the PTI’s core committee had also said that the government would not accept Maryam’s request.

“The prime minister and the core committee reiterated their resolve to uphold the belief that no one is above the law and there are no holy cows,” she had added.