Committee to decide about Sharif’s stay abroad

Lahore, Dec 26 (IANS) Authorities in Pakistan’s Punjab province have constituted a four-member committee to decide the request of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who sought to prolong his stay abroad for his medical treatment, claiming his condition to be "very critical

Sharif has written to the Punjab Home Secretary seeking extension in his stay abroad for his medical treatment (not limited to a specific period) following the end of his four-week permission for the purpose.

The provincial government constituted the four-member committee headed by Law Minister Mohammad Basharat Raja to look into the matter, a source told Dawn news on Wednesday.

The former premier had left for London over a month ago after the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government gave him a one-time permission to travel abroad for medical treatment during his bail period of four weeks without the condition of submitting indemnity bonds.

The Islamabad High Court had directed Sharif to seek Punjab government’s permission for further relief if required.

It declared that until the provincial government decided the matter, the bail would remain in effect and the court order would cease to exist if the government decided against extending the bail period.

Sharif, who was diagnosed with an immune system disorder, had been advised by doctors to go abroad for medical treatment.

His personal physician Adnan Khan had recently told the media that he had been diagnosed with a complicated coronary disease and would undergo further scans before doctors began treatment.