Islamabad- After two days consultation with party members and military leadership, Nawaz government today rejected former president Pervez Musharraf’s request for removal of his name from Exit Control List (ECL).

A written request was submitted from former military dictator to federal interior secretary for removing Pervez Musharraf's name from the ECL on Tuesday. The interior ministry replied to Musharraf’s lawyers that the government cannot remove ex-President’s name from the ECL as a high court of this country had banned him to travel abroad. The government in its reply said that Musharraf can contact higher courts of the country in this regard. It also said that law is equal for every citizen in the country, if a powerful person facing the worst charges leaves the country in that way then every accused person whom case is underway in court would seek same exemption.

Earlier, Prime Minster Nawaz Sharif had consulted his ruling PML-N members in this regard as most of them opposed to give Musharraf a safe passage. Sources said the prime minister also consulted top military leadership on Musharraf issue as army chief and ISI director general met Nawaz Sharif on Tuesday. The speculation was ripe last two days that the former military ruler is likely to leave the country after a special aircraft of a Gulf country was spotted at an airbase of Rawalpindi.

Moreover, President Mamnoon Hussain has said that he will follow the recommendation of the Prime Minister if a request for pardon will be submitted to him.  Federal Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had offered that the ailing mother of Pervez Musharraf can be brought to Pakistan by an air ambulance of the government. The special court in its decision on Monday said that Musharraf has not been in the court’s custody. The court added that removal of Musharraf's name from the exit control list was not its prerogative as it had not ordered for the inclusion of his name in the list. The court decision meant that it was up to the government to grant or disallow the request put forward by the former president to be allowed to travel abroad to meet his ailing mother.