After months of denying reports regarding relief to ailing former prime minister (PM) Nawaz Sharif, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government has decided to remove his name from the Exit Control List (ECL), The Current has learnt.

“His name will be removed from the no-fly list within the next 72 hours,” sources said and added that the convicted Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo would subsequently be allowed to travel abroad.

The development comes hours after Nawaz’s brother and PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif approached the Interior Ministry for the removal of the former premier’s name from the ECL.

RELATED STORIES

Nawaz, who was discharged from Lahore’s Services Hospital two days ago, was taken to his residence, Jati Umra, on Wednesday — 16 days after he was shifted to the hospital from jail in critical condition. With a precarious drop in his platelet count, the premier was also granted bail during his stay at the hospital.

On Thursday, media reports claimed that the former premier had been convinced by his brother to leave the country for some time and seek medical treatment abroad.

With Nawaz reportedly agreeing to leave, his daughter and PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz, who was also granted bail earlier this month, on Friday was seen agreeing with the decision.

WATCH VIDEO:

In an informal conversation with journalists outside an accountability court, she had said that her father’s health was critical and he must be allowed to travel abroad if that was the only option.

“Politics will go on, but parents will not always be around. I am only focused on Nawaz Sharif’s health for now,” she said while responding to a question regarding her plans to join Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s sit-in in Islamabad.

Commenting on whether she would accompany her father if he leaves the country for medical treatment, Maryam said that she could not travel immediately as her passport was with the court.