The federal government has requested the British authorities for the third time to deport former premier and supreme leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan so that he can serve his sentence. A letter, in this regard, was handed over to the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, reported Dawn.

The Pakistani government has requested its counterpart in the United Kingdom to cancel Sharif's visit visa and force him to return to Pakistan. PML-N supremo has been staying in London for his treatment with his sons since November on a visit visa after he was granted bail on medical grounds.

Sharif's bail expired over a month ago but the former prime minister refuses to return to the country.

Sharif has been announced as a proclaimed offender in Toshsakhana case by the accountability court and his warrants for arrest were issued by the Islamabad High Court in Avenfield and Al-Azizia reference.

The arrest warrants were delivered to his residence in London, however, he refused to accept them.

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz on Wednesday, while addressing a press conference, said that the government is employing optimum diplomatic channels to ensure early repatriation of Nawaz. He also mentioned that the previous governments had deliberately avoided signing an extradition treaty.

Earlier this month, the National Accountability Bureau had written to the ministry of interior to ask them to cancel Nawaz Sharif's passport and CNIC.

The deposed prime minister had only recently made a comeback to the national politics when he virtually addressed the opposition alliance against the government and made a highly incendiary speech.