Can't remove Maryam's name from ECL without 'concrete reasons': PM's aide

Firdous Awan says PML-N leader's plea under consideration of cabinet's sub-committee

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Prime minister's aide on information Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that the federal government cannot allow PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz Sharif to fly abroad without any "concrete reasons".

"Why does she need to visit her ailing father in London when all of her relatives including her siblings are there to take care of him," she told a press conference following a federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The Lahore High Court has directed the federal interior ministry to decide within seven days a request from the PML-N vice president, seeking removal of her name from the no-fly list as she wants to travel to the  British capital to see her ailing father, former premier Nawaz Sharif.

Maryam had requested the court to order removal of her name from ECL, and return her passport.

Firdous said Maryam's application was under consideration of federal cabinet's sub-committee; however, she hinted that the government was not willing to strike off the travel ban over "weak grounds".

"Law minister [Farogh Naseem] apprised the federal cabinet that there is no law which allows convicts to travel abroad to visit their ailing relatives," she added.

Maryam was arrested by the National Accountability Bureau on August 8 in a case regarding shady business transactions at Chaudhry Sugar Mills where she is a major shareholder.

On November 4, she was granted bail by the LHC which ordered her to furnish two surety bonds worth Rs20 million, and deposit an additional Rs70 million, and surrender her passport to secure her release.