Sheikh Rasheed Blocked at Islamabad Airport
Islamabad: Former Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed was prevented from traveling abroad on Tuesday despite a clear court order allowing him to do so. Airport officials stopped him at Islamabad International Airport as he prepared to depart for Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah.
According to Sheikh Rasheed, immigration authorities informed him at the airport that he was not permitted to leave the country. This came even though the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench had ordered his name removed from both the Passport Control List and the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).
Rashid said he had already sent certified copies of the court’s ruling to the relevant government departments before his scheduled departure.
Court Allowed Me to Travel, Yet I Was Stopped
In a video statement posted on social media, Sheikh Rasheed expressed frustration at the authorities’ actions. Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan allowed me to go for Umrah. The court clearly stated that there should be no objection to my travel, he said. But when I reached the airport, I was stopped and told I could not leave.
He added that he plans to file a contempt of court petition before Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, saying, When a High Court order is ignored in a country, one can only look toward the heavens. God will help me perform Umrah and make them regret their decision.
Court Order Ignored Despite Clear Instructions
Just days earlier, the Lahore High Court’s Rawalpindi Bench had instructed authorities to remove Sheikh Rasheed’s name from the travel restriction lists. The order was intended to allow the former minister to travel abroad without hindrance.
Despite this, immigration officials reportedly cited technical issues as the reason for stopping him. Legal experts note that such actions may amount to contempt of court, as ignoring judicial directives undermines the rule of law.
Background and Political Context
Sheikh Rasheed, a veteran politician and head of the Awami Muslim League, served as Pakistan’s Interior Minister during Imran Khan’s government. Since the change of administration in 2022, he has faced several investigations and was previously restricted from foreign travel.
Travel bans under Pakistan’s PNIL and other watchlists are common for individuals under investigation or facing legal scrutiny. However, once a court clears a person, authorities are legally bound to comply.
Analysts say this latest incident highlights ongoing tensions between Pakistan’s judiciary and executive institutions over the implementation of court orders.
