Shahbaz Sharif offloaded from plane as FIA bars him from leaving for Doha

According to details, Shehbaz Sharif was offloaded from a Qatar-bound flight at the Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore earlier today due to his name still being on the agency’s blacklist.

The PML-N leader was issued a boarding pass but was barred from boarding the plane after immigration officers cited system update issues.

Shehbaz Sharif was scheduled to leave for Doha from Lahore, where he was expected to stay for two to three days. From Doha, the PML-N leader was scheduled to leave for London for medical treatment.

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday allowed Shehbaz Sharif to fly abroad on for medical treatment.

A hearing to remove his name from the government's no-fly blacklist was held today after PML-N leader moved LHC to grant him permission to travel abroad.

During the proceedings, the government lawyer stated that Shahbaz Sharif in his petition has mentioned that he has an appointment with doctor on May 20, while there is a maximum quarantine of 14 days in Qatar.

“Shehbaz Sharif is main accused of money laundering case. If he leaves the country, the case proceedings will get affected,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PML-N leader requested court to allow him to fly-back saying he went abroad but came back in past as well.

“If I am given 8 weeks I will come back, I will never violate the court order,” Shahbaz told the court.

Following the conclusion of arguments, court reserved verdict to be announced today.

On May 06, Shehbaz Sharif had approached the Lahore High Court (LHC) seeking removal of his name from a blacklist stating that he is a cancer survivor and needs to go abroad for treatment.

The federal government, Ministry of Interior and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have been made respondents in the petition.

The opposition leader in his petition stated that he was given bail in the Ashiana-e-Iqbal and Ramzan Sugar Mills cases, following which he went abroad and came back after four months.

He said that the federal government has added his name to the blacklist and that his name on the blacklist is a violation of fundamental rights. The PML-N leader further requested court to order relevant authorities to remove his name from the blacklist.

On April 23, Shehbaz Sharif was released from Kot Lakhpat Jail after the Lahore High Court (LHC) granted him post-arrest bail in a money laundering case.