The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has asked the Interior Ministry to cancel the passport and computerized national identity card of PML-N Quaid and former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Friday, quoting its sources.

In a letter received by the Interior Ministry, the NAB said the process to declare Nawaz Sharif a proclaimed offender is under way after the court issued arrest warrants against him.

The letter urged the ministry to cancel Nawaz Sharif’s travel documents by blacklisting his passport and national identity card.

It also urged the ministry to establish contact with the Interpol for the return of Nawaz Sharif wanted by the NAB in several cases.

On Friday also, the federal government submitted in Islamabad High Court expenses for newspaper advertisements to summon Nawaz Sharif in the Al-Azizia and Avenfield references.

Nawaz was declared a proclaimed offender earlier in September and had refused multiple times to receive the arrest warrants issued in his name. The arrest warrants were sent twice by hand and once via Britain's Royal Mail.

The IHC had instructed that if Nawaz Sharif does not appear within 30 days after the advertisement was published, then he would be declared an absconder. An advertisement would also be pasted on Nawaz’s residence in London.

The additional attorney general (AAG) deposited Rs60,000 in the IHC’s registrar's office. The AAG wrote a letter to the court regarding the payment, referring to the October 7 order.

JIT formed to probe sedition case

On the other hand, Lahore CCPO Umer Sheikh has formed a four-member joint investigation team to probe into the sedition case registered against the PML-N leadership by Shahdara Police Station.

CIA SSP Asim Iftikhar Kamboh will head the team comprising DSP Muhammad Ghayas, Shahdara Investigation In-charge Shabbir Awan and In-charge CIA Iqbal Town.

It has been decided that the team will interrogate all the accused nominated in case which also include AJK Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider.

The CCPO decided to form a joint investigation team despite the fact that Prime Minister Imran Khan had expressed his displeasure over the registration of a sedition case against the opposition leaders.

Expressing his views, senior analyst Salim Bokhari said the government was using NAB and police for political purposes to exert pressure on the opposition.