LHC approves Sheikh Rasheed's appeal against Umrah travel

RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Mar, 2026) A division bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi, comprising Justice Tariq Bajwa and Justice Jawad Hasan, has approved the Federal government’s intra-court appeal against the foreign travel of Awami Muslim League chief Sheikh Rashid.

The court set aside a single bench ruling and directed him to approach the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) regarding his pending case.

The bench observed that since Sheikh Rashid’s petition related to performing Umrah is pending in the ATC, he should liaise with that court.

The LHC also instructed the ATC to rehear the application and deliver a decision in accordance with the law. The verdict, comprising 23 pages, was reserved on March 13 and announced yesterday.

Previously, a single bench of the LHC, headed by Justice Sadaqat Ali Khan, had allowed Sheikh Rashid to travel for Umrah. However, the federal government filed an intra-court appeal challenging the permission. The division bench accepted the appeal, declaring the single bench order null and void.

The federal government’s appeal argued that Sheikh Rashid’s name is listed in the PINL due to his inclusion in the GHQ attack case under trial, and therefore, the single bench’s decision should be annulled.

Sheikh Rashid’s counsel contended that Article 15 of the Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of movement.

He added that courts have in the past allowed accused individuals to travel abroad during trials, and no citizen’s passport can be confiscated without notice or hearing. He further argued that Sheikh Rashid had previously traveled abroad during the GHQ attack trial without abusing any judicial concessions.

The division bench remarked that the matter should be referred back to the trial court, but the counsel clarified that the trial court does not have the authority to remove the accused’s name from the PINL. After hearing arguments from both sides, the court reserved its decision, which was announced on Wednesday.