LAHORE: A decision on the removal of Maryam Nawaz’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) has to be issued by the federal government within seven days, the Lahore High Court ruled on Monday.
The daughter of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who is also the vice president of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), submitted a petition to the court on Saturday, requesting that her name be removed from the ECL and passport temporarily returned, enabling her to meet the ailing father who has been undergoing treatment in the UK.
A bench headed by Justice Ali Baqar Najafi said Maryam Nawaz should exercise her right to appeal for the ECL removal to the federal government.
The government placed Maryam’s name on the no-fly list following a request by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in August.
According to PML-N leadership, Maryam Nawaz has not been involved in any corruption case and should be allowed to meet her ailing father.
“Maryam Nawaz is not involved in any corruption case. She has not held any public office and all the cases against her related to her inherited property. She must be allowed to go abroad. She should be given her legitimate right to take care of her ailing father,” PML-N, Punjab spokeswoman Azma Zahid Bokhari told Arab News.
Legal experts are of the view that the plea will be heard by the review committee and if it is rejected, Nawaz reserves the right to appeal the decision in court.
“The court has changed the petition to a presentation against the federal government decision of putting Maryam Nawaz’s name on ECL and issued direction to review committee to decide the matter in seven days. The matter will be discussed in the committee and decision will be taken after hearing the party. Maryam can move to court again if the committee decides against her,” former Attorney General Ashtar Ausaf Ali told Arab News.
Maryam Nawaz is currently free on bail in a corruption case related to Chaudhry Sugar Mills (CSM). Her father is serving a seven-year sentence on graft charges and was granted bail on health grounds.
Court gives government seven days on Maryam Nawaz’s ECL plea
https://arab.news/4hzm3
Court gives government seven days on Maryam Nawaz’s ECL plea
- PLM-N vice president seeks removal from no-fly list to visit her father in UK
- Maryam is barred from leaving Pakistan following a request by the national anti graft body
Pakistani, Bangladeshi officials discuss trade, investment and aviation as ties thaw
- Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war
- Ties between Pakistan, Bangladesh have warmed up since last year and both nations have resumed sea trade
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider on Sunday met Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus in Dhaka, the latter's office said on, with the two figures discussing trade, investment and aviation.
Pakistan and Bangladesh were once one nation, but they split in 1971 as a result of a bloody civil war, which saw the part previously referred to as East Pakistan seceding to form the independent nation of Bangladesh.
Ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh have warmed up since former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s ouster as a result of a student-led uprising in August 2024. Relations remain frosty between Dhaka and New Delhi over India’s decision to grant asylum to Hasina.
Pakistan has attempted to forge closer ties with Bangladesh in recent months and both South Asian nations last year began sea trade, followed by efforts to expand government-to-government commerce.
"During the meeting, both sides discussed ways to expand cooperation in trade, investment, and aviation as well as scaling up cultural, educational and medical exchanges to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two South Asian nations," Yunus's office said in a statement on X.
In 2023-24 Pakistan exported goods worth $661 million to Bangladesh, while its imports were only $57 million, according to the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan. In Aug. this year, the Pakistani and Bangladeshi commerce ministries signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a Joint Working Group on Trade, aiming to raise their bilateral trade volume to $1 billion in the financial year that began in July.
The Pakistani high commissioner noted that bilateral trade has recorded a 20 percent growth compared to last year, with business communities from both countries actively exploring new investment opportunities, according to the statement.
He highlighted a significant increase in cultural exchanges, adding that Bangladeshi students have shown strong interest in higher education opportunities in Pakistan, particularly in medical sciences, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Haider also said that Dhaka-Karachi direct flights are expected to start in January.
"Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus welcomed the growing interactions between the two countries and emphasized the importance of increased visits as well as cultural, educational and people-to-people exchanges among SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) member states," the statement read.
"Professor Yunus also underscored the need to further boost Bangladesh–Pakistan trade and expressed hope that during Mr. Haider’s tenure, both countries would explore new avenues for investment and joint venture businesses."
