ATC dismisses former interior minister’s travel application; lawyer vows high court challenge
Former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed speaking to media on February 24 after he was placed back on the Exit Control List. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
Former interior minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmad’s application to travel abroad for Umrah was dismissed on Tuesday after his name was placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) for the second time.
The prosecutor informed the court that on the instructions of the federal government, the Federal Investigation Agency had placed Sheikh Rashid’s name on the ECL. The prosecutor added that in connection with the May 9 incidents and the GHQ attack cases, the names of all the accused have been placed on the list.
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The federal government had decided to place several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders on the ECL in connection with cases stemming from the May 9 incident; including Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Omar Ayub, Fawad Chaudhry, Shibli Faraz, Ali Amin Gandapur, Shehryar Afridi, Usman Dar, Shireen Mazari, Zartaj Gul, Musarrat Cheema, Kanwal Shauzab, Sheikh Rashid, and Major (retd) Tahir Sadiq.
Following the prosecutor’s statement, Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Amjad Ali Shah dismissed Rashid’s application for Umrah.
Afterwards, the senior politician’s lawyer announced that the decision and action would be challenged in the high court, arguing that since the court had already granted permission to Rashid to travel for Umrah, placing his name on the ECL amounted to contempt of court.
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Speaking briefly after the hearing, Sheikh Rashid said he was surprised to learn that his name had been added to the ECL once again, noting that it had previously been removed. He vowed to challenge the action in the high court and expressed confidence that he would obtain permission and perform Umrah.
In November 2025, Sheikh Rashid was barred from leaving the country despite Lahore High Court orders permitting him to perform Umrah. Rashid, who was travelling to Saudi Arabia via Dubai, was stopped by immigration officials at Islamabad International Airport.
After the incident, he said he would approach the court again, adding that all relevant authorities had been provided copies of the court’s orders, ensuring no obstruction.
