PTI govt writes to UK to bring back Nawaz

Move draws opposition’s ire; Shehbaz says letter violates court orders; Bilawal slams PTI’s ‘duplicity’

ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Tuesday confirmed that it had written a letter to the UK authorities for the repatriation of convicted former premier Nawaz Sharif, who is undergoing treatment in London for a complicated coronary disease, drawing severe criticism from the opposition parties, which claimed that the move was driven by “political vindictiveness”.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi told reporters that his ministry had sent the letter to the UK, a couple of days after Special Assistant to the PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan announced that the government would seek the deportation of the 70-year-old Sharif family patriarch, whose request to extend his bail on medical grounds had been rejected by the Punjab government.

However, the foreign minister refused to divulge the content of the letter.

Addressing a news conference later in the day, the PM’s aide on information also confirmed that the foreign ministry had written a letter to the UK authorities seeking the deportation of the PML-N supreme leader. “It was a necessary step to bring Nawaz to the country,” she added.

“The opposition’s hue and cry over the letter shows that he [Nawaz] was planning to stay abroad for an extended period of time.”

Firdous further said it had been 105 days since the former premier left the country after being granted bail by the court for medical treatment abroad but had neither sent his medical reports to the government, nor admitted to a hospital during this time.

“This shows that you [Nawaz] misused the facility [granted to you],” she added.

She maintained that the medical board that allowed Nawaz to travel abroad now believed on the basis of the documents submitted to it that he was fit to return now.

“The board wanted you [Nawaz] to submit your medical reports but you sent letters and certificates instead. A medical report and a letter are two different things.”

She also mentioned a viral picture of the PML-N supreme leader wherein he could be seen at a café in London. “It [picture] clearly shows that you are not in London for the purpose you were allowed to travel there.”

The government’s step attracted the ire of PML-N and other opposition parties.

PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif, who is accompanying his brother Nawaz in London, described the move as unethical and illogical.

“The government has no legal authority to write a letter to the UK authorities,” he said in a statement issued from London.

“The haste with which it [government] has acted exposes its nefarious designs,” he added.

Shehbaz, who is also the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly, said the court had told Nawaz to approach the government for an extension in bail. However, he maintained, Nawaz was also allowed to challenge the government’s decisions.

“This action is in violation of the court order. This government is trying to distract the people’s attention from its incompetence at the risk of Nawaz Sharif’s life. Any attempt to create hurdles in his treatment would be tantamount to an attack on his life.”

Speaking on the matter, PML-N Vice President Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said the government’s letter made no difference as Nawaz had travelled abroad with the permission of court.

“He [Nawaz] is undergoing treatment in London and only the court will decide when he should return to the country,” he added.

“This government considers him [Nawaz] a threat because he is the most popular political leader in the country and that’s why it is going after him.”

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also lashed out at the government, saying that the move was reflective of the ruling party’s “duplicitous” policies.

“Imran Khan himself allowed Nawaz Sharif to travel abroad and should not lie about it now,” he told reporters in Lahore.

Nawaz, who is serving a seven-year jail term, was diagnosed with an immune system disorder – acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) – in October last year.

He remained hospitalised in Pakistan for weeks and reportedly was in ‘very’ critical condition.

The Islamabad High Court suspended the prison sentence of the ailing former prime minister on medical grounds for eight weeks in the Al Azizia case on October 29 last year so he could receive medical treatment abroad.

It also directed him to seek the Punjab government’s permission for further relief, if required.

He was earlier also granted bail by the Lahore High Court in the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

Nawaz, along with his brother Shehbaz, left for London on November 20 — four days after the Lahore High Court directed the federal government to remove the former premier’s name from the Exit Control List.

The PTI-led federal government had also allowed him permission to fly abroad for treatment after a board of doctors constituted by the government concluded that his treatment was not possible in Pakistan.

His bail had automatically extended for eight more weeks as the Punjab government had not announced its decision until then. However, provincial government announced last week that the former premier’s medical reports had failed to satisfy it into allowing a further extension in bail to him and would send its recommendations to the Centre for making the final call on the matter.

With input from our correspondent in Lahore