According to sources, Nawaz would get his new passport shortly to accompany his son, Hasan, to London. A senior government official said he saw the development as a response to ARD's demand that Nawaz Sharif and self-exiled Benazir Bhutto should be allowed to 'return' home.
Talking to this correspondent before the local government elections, the ruling PML Information Secretary Senator Tariq Azeem had hinted at the possibility of issuance of a new passport to Nawaz after the polls.
When approached, PML (N) information secretary Siddiqul Farooq said it was Nawaz's fundamental right as a Pakistani citizen that his passport be renewed.
"It is a belated development in response to an application filed several months ago by a leader who served as prime minister twice," he argued.
He parried question about possibility of Nawaz coming back home or starting political activities while sitting in Britain.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Rashid Ahmed, in a statement, said that except for Pakistan, Nawaz could visit any country.
A spokesman of ARD, said that they would be issuing a statement, if deemed necessary, on Thursday.