The Lahore High Court (LHC) Monday ordered to return the passport of PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz, seized by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a corruption reference.

The PML-N leader had approached the LHC against the anti-graft body saying despite the absence of any charge sheet against her or trial, she had not been able to exercise her fundamental rights for about four years on account of surrendering her passport in compliance with the court order.

She had pleaded that she was in dire need to go abroad to attend to and inquire after her ailing father, requesting the court to direct the deputy registrar (judicial) to return her passport in the interest of justice.

A three-member bench of the LHC headed by Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti and comprised Justice Ali Baqar Najafi and Justice Tariq Saleem Sheikh heard the case today.

During the last hearing, the NAB had told the court that it no longer needed Maryam Nawaz’s passport, clearing the way for her passport to be returned.

The LHC accepted Maryam’s plea and directed to return her passport in today’s hearing.