The prosecutor informed the court that the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), following instructions from the federal government, had placed Sheikh Rashid Ahmad’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL). This action is linked to cases related to the May 9 incidents and the GHQ attack, for which all accused individuals have been added to the list.

Several Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders were also included on the ECL in connection with these cases, 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 Sheikh Rashid’s application for Umrah.

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After the hearing, Sheikh Rashid’s lawyer announced that the decision would be challenged in the high court, arguing that the court had already granted Rashid permission to perform Umrah. He said that placing Rashid’s name on the ECL again amounts to contempt of court.

Speaking briefly outside the courtroom, Sheikh Rashid expressed surprise at seeing his name back on the ECL, noting that it had been removed previously. He said he remained confident that he would secure permission to travel and perform Umrah.

This is not the first time Sheikh Rashid has faced such restrictions. In November 2025, he was stopped at Islamabad International Airport despite Lahore High Court orders allowing him to travel to Umrah via Dubai. At the time, he stated that he would approach the court again to ensure there were no obstacles, emphasizing that all relevant authorities had copies of the court’s orders.