'Govt won't remove Maryam's name from ECL'

ISLAMABAD: The government has made it clear that it will not remove Maryam Nawaz's name from the Exit Control List (ECL) and won't allow her to go abroad, Federal Minister for Water Resources Faisal Vawda said on Tuesday.

The minister said that during a federal cabinet meeting, he had addressed the prime minister and told him the government will not tolerate the 'platelet drama' for a second time.

"Every time the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader runs away, the workers get caught," he said. "This time if the name is removed from the ECL we will challenge it in the courts."

Last week, Maryam had filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC), for her removal from the no-fly list. 

In her petition for bail, Maryam had stated that she wished to go abroad for six weeks, expressing concern over the deteriorating health of her father, who is currently in London for medical treatment.

She had also challenged the legality of her name being placed on the no-fly list by claiming that her arguments in the case were not properly heard, and asked the court to remove her name from the ECL.

READ MORE: LHC gives government seven days to decide on removal of Maryam Nawaz from Exit Control List

She was arrested in August 2018 after a corruption reference was filed against her at the National Accountability Bureau related to the Chaudhry Sugar Mills case.

The LHC on Monday asked the government to make a final decision about removing her name from the ECL within the next seven days.