The two lawmakers – Mohsin Dawar and Ali Wazir – who were barred by the FIA from leaving for Kabul were later allowed to travel to the Afghan capital on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The two MNAs have been in the news in recent years for their open support to the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM), an organisation alleged by the military of having links with Indian and Afghan spy agencies.  

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) stopped Dawar and Wazir from boarding the plane when they arrived at the Islamabad International Airport on Sunday.

Mohsin Dawar told BBC that they, like other parliamentarians, wanted to go to Kabul to attend the oath-taking ceremony of President Ghani - who has recently been re-elected to the office in a highly controversial election.

Dawar said the FIA told them they cannot leave the country because their names are on the Exit Control List (ECL).

Hours later, Special Assistant to PM Shehzad Akbar said that the two lawmakers have been given one-time permission to leave the country on the order of the Prime Minister.