ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet has decided to pursue all means to bring back to Pakistan former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif who was convicted for corruption in 2018 but left for the United Kingdom last year for medical reasons.
Last November, Sharif flew to London in an air ambulance for medical treatment, a month after he was released on bail from a seven-year prison sentence.
Sharif, who has dominated Pakistani politics for three decades, denies the corruption charges, claiming they are politically motivated.
“Cabinet was told that [government] will take all necessary measures to bring back Mian Nawaz Sharif,” an official handout by the cabinet said on Tuesday. “Cabinet noted that Nawaz Sharif misused the facility [to leave Pakistan for medical treatment] extended to him by the government.”
Sharif has filed a bail extension request, the cabinet said.
“A medical board was constituted and opportunity of personal hearing was given on February 19, 20 and 21,” the cabinet statement said. “However, neither Sharif appeared, nor any of his medical reports were submitted on his behalf. On Feb 27, 2020, the request for extension in bail was dismissed.”
Sharif has previously lived in exile in Saudi Arabia for seven years after being toppled by the Pakistan military in 2000.
His third term as prime minister ran from 2013 to 2017, when he was removed by the Supreme Court amid revelations over his personal wealth.
Subsequently convicted of corruption, Sharif has consistently denied the accusations.
On October 25 last year, Sharif was granted bail and he obtained court clearance to leave the country for medical treatment.
Prime Minister Imran Khan came to power in 2018 promising an anti-graft campaign, saying he would bring back billions of dollars allegedly squirreled abroad by politicians.
