The Sheikh Rashid ECL issue returned to the spotlight after an Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) in Islamabad rejected his request to travel abroad for Umrah. The court gave its decision on Tuesday after authorities confirmed his name was placed on the Exit Control List again.
During the hearing, the prosecutor told the court that the Federal Investigation Agency added his name on government instructions. Officials said this action was linked to cases connected with the May 9 incidents and the GHQ attack.
The federal government has already placed several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders on the Exit Control List in the same cases. These include Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Omar Ayub, Fawad Chaudhry, Shibli Faraz, Ali Amin Gandapur, and others.
After hearing the arguments, ATC Judge Amjad Ali Shah dismissed Sheikh Rashid’s plea to travel for Umrah.
His lawyer announced plans to challenge the decision in the high court. He argued that the court had earlier allowed his client to travel, and placing his name on the list again was not justified.
Speaking briefly to media, Sheikh Rashid said he was surprised by the development. He said he would approach the high court and hoped to get permission to perform Umrah.
This is not the first time he faced such restrictions. In November 2025, immigration officials stopped him at Islamabad airport despite court permission, preventing his travel to Saudi Arabia.
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