Awami Muslim League (AML) Chief and MNA Sheikh Rasheed was barred on late Thursday night at the airport from traveling abroad due to non-issuance of clearance by the authorities, a private news channel reported.
According to details, Sheikh Rasheed boarded the flight destined for Toronto this morning but PIA officials offloaded him from the plane before takeoff.
PIA officials clarified that the orders to off load Rasheed came from Canadian authorities.
Rasheed was furious over the incident, saying he had complete travel documents.
“This is not my insult; this is the insult of the whole parliament. It’s a slap on the face of democracy,” Rasheed said while talking to media.
He said he will protest against this incident in the National Assembly. He said that he was stopped for unknown reasons as his name was not on the exit control list (ECL). The AML chief was scheduled to address a rally in Canada on March 23.
Rasheed was due to fly Canada via flight PK-718, but he was offloaded shortly at BenazirInternationalAirport, Islamabad.