PESHAWAR: Qaumi Watan Party chairman Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao on Wednesday asked the government to avoid playing politics over the issue of Pakistan Muslim League-N ailing leader Nawaz Sharif going abroad for treatment.

According to a press release issued here, he urged the government to facilitate the former prime minister so he could seek treatment abroad as he was seriously ill.

The government, he said was dragging its feet to remove the name of Nawaz Sharif from the Exit Control List to facilitate his travel abroad.

“The government should remove the name of Nawaz Sharif from the ECL forthwith instead of making lame excuses,” he remarked.

Mr Sherpao also criticised the government for asking the PML-N leader to submit surety bonds before proceeding abroad, adding the party had already submitted the surety bonds in the courts to secure bail for Nawaz Sharif.

The QWP leader also flayed the federal government for taking the plea that the ailing PMN-N leader might not return to the country, saying that he came back to Pakistan at a time when his wife was seriously ill.

Mr Sherpao maintained that tension between the government and the opposition parties could further increase as the rulers were trying to push their opponents further against the wall.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2019