ISLAMABAD: Federal Cabinet’s sub-committee has reserved its decision regarding the removal of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from the Exit Control List.

Talking to private television channels, the head of the sub-committee, Minister for Law Farogh Naseem, said final decision regarding removal of Nawaz Sharif’s name from the ECL rested with the federal cabinet.

He however assured that the decision would be taken purely on merit.

The sub-committee held various sessions on Tuesday to draw up recommendations on the matter.

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) on Tuesday said that it had no objection on former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s going for treatment abroad on humanitarian basis, local media quoted sources as saying.

Also Read: NAB has no objection on Nawaz’s getting treatment overseas: sources

However, the accountability watchdog reportedly said, the final decision regarding striking Nawaz’s name from the ECL should be taken by the government.

Federal Cabinet’s sub-committee met on Tuesday to discuss an application filed by Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) President Shahbaz Sharif seeking removal of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s name from the no-fly list on humanitarian grounds.

Dr Farogh Naseem had presided over the meeting.

On Nov 11, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan had said former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s name would be removed from the ECL after consultation and on recommendations of the NAB and the medical board.

“The process is underway to remove name of Nawaz Sharif from the ECL. The government does not place people’s name on the ECL, rather they are placed on recommendations of the NAB and the courts,” Firdous Ashiq Awan had said while addressing media in Islamabad.

She had said the former PM was convicted by an accountability court in the case in which the NAB was the complainant. She expressed hope that the NAB would give its recommendations in one day.