Govt orders interior ministry to 'renew passports of Nawaz Sharif, Ishaq Dar': sources

Islamabad: The Shehbaz-led government issued direction to the Ministry of Interior for the renewal of passports of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former finance minister Ishaq Dar, sources told GNN on Tuesday.

The latest direction follows the oath-taking of Shehbaz Sharif, who is the younger brother of Nawaz, as Prime Minister and the ouster of PTI Chairman Imran Khan from office.

Sources said the Pakistani High Commission in London has also been directed to start work on the renewal of the passports of the PML-N leaders.

The Khan-led government had refused to renew Nawaz's passport after it expired in February last year, but then-interior minister Sheikh Rasheed had said if the PML-N supremo wanted to return, he could be issued a special certificate.

Nawaz Sharif was granted an eight-week bail on medical grounds in October 2019, and a month later, he was allowed to travel abroad for treatment for four weeks, but he is still in London to date.