PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif has received a passport from the interior ministry, allowing him to travel to any country in the world.
The travel document was granted on April 23 in the federal capital, according to details. The passport is “ordinary” in character and was issued under the “urgent” category.
The news came as the Lahore High Court (LHC) was about to hear a petition seeking to remove the PML-N leader’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL).
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had submitted the case, and the LHC had ordered Nawaz’s name to be removed from the ECL in an interim ruling.
The new passport of the PML-N leader is valid for ten years, or till April.
Last week, newly sworn-in Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah stated that the former premier’s entitlement to a diplomatic passport would be granted to him.
“It is regrettable that a guy who has been Prime Minister three times is being robbed of national citizenship,” Sana said after being sworn into PM Shehbaz’s new federal cabinet.
A petition challenging Nawaz’s issuance of a diplomatic passport had been found inadmissible by the Islamabad High Court (IHC) a day earlier, and the petitioner was fined Rs5,000.
Nawaz should not be granted a passport, according to the petitioner, because he is a “absconding prisoner.” “As a result, officials should refuse to provide him a diplomatic passport.”
Mian Javed Latif, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz, indicated earlier this month that Nawaz will return to Pakistan after Eid.
The PML-N leader stated that the decision on the former Prime Minister’s anticipated return would be addressed with coalition partners first.
