LAHORE, Feb 1: The interior ministry on Saturday allowed the family of former Punjab chief minister Mr Shahbaz Sharif to travel to the United States to be able to take care of the PML-N president who has already arrived in the US for medical treatment.

The permission was granted for 30 days in response to an application moved by Mr Shahbaz Sharif’s son — Mr Hamza Shahbaz.

According to highly placed sources, Mr Hamza Shahbaz will be issued passport in Pakistan while instructions have been issued to Pakistan’s embassy in Saudi Arabia to provide passports to the exiled wife and two daughters of Mr Shahbaz Sharif.

“This will be a one-time permission, effective for 30 days. However, it may be extended, if necessary, in view of the health of Mr Shahbaz Sharif,” the sources said.

The interior ministry says that the former chief minister has a brain tumour for which he will be needing surgery. It rules out the possibility of the exiled leader or any member of his family returning to Pakistan before the end of the agreement period.

The sources said that the family members of Mr Abbas Sharif, who had recently arrived in Pakistan from Saudi Arabia, had been allowed to extend their stay for some more days to be able to participate in some marriage ceremonies.

Meanwhile, according to a statement, Mr Hamza Shahbaz has sought permission from the government to travel to the United States to be able to take care of his ailing father undergoing medical treatment there.

He has also sought permission for his mother and two sisters in Saudi Arabia to go to the United States.

“Let there be no doubt the intended travel of the members of the Shahbaz Sharif family to the United States is purely on medical grounds and has no political motive of any kind whatsoever,” said the statement issued by Mr Hamza Shahbaz.