Pakistani journalist and vlogger Bilal Ghauri was released on Sunday a few hours after he was stopped and detained by immigration officials at the Jinnah International Airport as he attempted to travel to Dhaka to cover Bangladesh’s February 12, 2026 parliamentary elections.
According to reports, Ghauri was prevented from boarding his flight after his name allegedly appeared on the Exit Control List (ECL). Images circulating on social media showed him sitting beside his luggage with what appeared to be handcuffs, raising concerns within the media community.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Ghauri said the incident occurred due to a technical error and that no institution was at fault. He said he was safe and would travel to Dhaka on the first available flight as planned. He also thanked institutions for their support and expressed pride in his country.
Journalist Mohsin Raza Khan stated on social media that Ghauri had been held for around 15 hours before being released. He said Ghauri later reached a hotel in Karachi and was in good condition.
