Following meetings between the Federal Cabinet and Sub-Committee, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif refused to travel abroad on Tuesday to seek medical treatment under the conditions proposed by the government.
The PML-N leader rejected the government’s offer made on medical grounds of paying Rs7 billion as surety bonds. This amount is equivalent to the fines imposed on him by the accountability court during the two corruption cases (Al-Azizia Steel Mills and Avenfield properties) in which he was convicted. At the end of the marathon meetings which ended in a deadlock, the chairman of the cabinet’s Sub-Committee told the media it had reversed it’s decision regarding the Exit Control List (ECL) and that the decision was made on merit and was not binding on Nawaz Sharif. When asked under what existing law the committee or the government could get surety bonds from Sharif, who had already submitted them to the courts, no response was provided. A member of the Federal Cabinet claimed that although there was a divide over Sharif’s departure, the majority at the meeting were in favour of it and it was also endorsed by the Prime Minister. Nawaz Sharif was set to leave Lahore for London on Monday to pursue medical help following a critical decrease in platelet levels. However, his departure was delayed as the relevant authorities in his corruption case, namely NAB, were divided over the matter. The National Accountability Bureau recommended he not exit the country. The conditions surrounding Sharif’s exit were that he be allowed to leave the country following a payment of surety bonds, it should be a one-time wavier and his stay in any country for medical treatment should be time bound. A PML-N representative said that these conditions were rejected as Sharif had already submitted surety bonds in two past cases to courts. Keep up to date with more news at ProperGaanda: The Rise of Juul Among the Youth