Stunned to learn my name has again been put on ECL, says Sh Rasheed

Former interior minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said on Tuesday he was stunned that his name had again been put on the Exit Control List (ECL) despite the fact that he did not utter any objectionable thing of late, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Speaking to the media outside an anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Rawalpindi, he said he would go to a high court to get his name removed from the ECL. “My lawyer Sardar Abdur Razzaq Advocate will file a plea in a high court in this regard. We will continue our legal and constitutional battle,” he vowed.

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad on Saturday filed an application in an anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi, seeking permission to travel to Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Sardar Shehbaz Advocate filed the application on behalf of Rasheed.

It was stated in the application that the AML chief regularly appeared in the court in connection with the hearings of his cases, and that he never misused the bail granted to him.

It was further written that the purpose of travelling to Saudi Arabia is to perform Umrah, and that the applicant would make sure he returned to the country within the stipulated time period. “It is, therefore, prayed to the court to allow the applicant to perform Umrah.”

Reporter Ershad Qureshi