LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the federal government and interior ministry on an application for placing former prime minister Nawaz Sharif on the Exit Control List (ECL).

In his application, Barrister Javed Iqbal Jafree argued before the court that the former premier could flee the country to avoid references of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), ordered by the Supreme Court in its July 28 judgment in Panama Papers case.

He said Mr Sharif had not been appearing before combined investigation team of the National Accountability Bureaudespite repeated summons.

Barrister Jafree said the respondent could easily go abroad since he had valid visas of different countries stamped on his passport.

He pointed out that several other cases, including of money laundering, were also pending before courts.

He asked the court to order the interior ministry to immediately put the name of Nawaz Sharif on the ECL.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh sought replies from the government and the ministry by Aug 25.

Published in Dawn, August 23rd, 2017