Islamabad, May 26 (PTI) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has thanked the government for banning him from leaving the country after being placed on the no-fly list. No business abroad.
Khan, his wife Bushra Bibi and other leaders and former legislators of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party were reportedly barred from leaving the country on Thursday.

On Twitter, Khan wrote: “I have no plans to go abroad as I want to thank the government for putting my name on ECL as I don’t have any assets, businesses or even a bank account outside the country.” “If I had the chance to vacation, it would be in my favorite place on earth, our northern mountains,” he said.

The Exit Control List (ECL) is maintained by the Ministry of Home Affairs and deals with persons who are not allowed to leave the country due to pending court cases or other reasons.

Earlier, the Pakistan government had barred Khan, his wife and at least 80 others from leaving the country, Sama news channel reported on Thursday.

“The central government has decided to add the names of 80 people, including PTI chief Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi, to the no-fly list,” the statement said.

The 70-year-old Khan and several key leaders of his party are facing charges in connection with the violence that erupted after the PTI chief was arrested on May 9 in a corruption case. On May 9, violent protests erupted after paramilitary rangers arrested Khan from the Islamabad High Court (IHC) premises.

In response to Khan’s arrest, his party workers vandalized a dozen army bases, including the Lahore Corps Commander’s house, Mianwali Air Force Base and the ISI building in Faisalabad.

The mob also attacked the Army Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi for the first time.

Police put the death toll in violent clashes at 10, while Khan’s party said 40 of its workers were killed in firing by security personnel.

Thousands of Khan’s supporters were arrested following the violence, which the powerful military described as a “dark day” in the country’s history.

Several PTI leaders were also arrested following the riots.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said on Sunday that those involved in attacks on military positions would be tried in military courts and those accused of attacks on civilian targets would be punished under civil laws.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Wednesday that the government was considering banning Khan’s PTI party after supporters of Khan attacked military posts following the former prime minister’s arrest.

He was ousted from power in April last year after losing a no-confidence vote in his leadership, accused of being part of a US-led conspiracy to target him because of his independent foreign policy decisions on Russia, China and Afghanistan. PTI SH MRJ MRJ