Several passengers were caught using false documents as the investigation expands through airports
A view of the Islamabad International Airport building during a press tour ahead of its official opening, Pakistan, April 18, 2018. Source: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has stepped up a wide-ranging campaign against illegal migration and suspected internal collusion after a series of interceptions at major airports involving falsified documents and, according to officials, the possible assistance of insiders.
Immigration officers at the New Islamabad International Airport on Sunday disembarked a passenger, Muhammad Usman, who attempted to travel to Europe on an Umrah visa.
Usman was identified during clearance for flight PK-713, and authorities said an initial investigation revealed that he had been deported from Italy earlier this year and remained in contact with multiple travel agents. A search of his cell phone revealed a tampered resident card with an altered expiration date, authorities added.
Authorities described the episode as part of a pattern in which travelers seek to exploit religious travel visas and falsified documentation to reach European destinations. Usman, they said, appears to have planned a subsequent trip from Saudi Arabia to Europe using forged documents. He has been arrested and handed over to the FIA Composite Circle in Gujranwala for further legal action.
Earlier this week, officers at the same Islamabad airport intercepted an Afghan national, Jannat Gul Niazi, who was offloaded from flight PK-749 to France after immigration staff discovered he was traveling with a fake Greek resident card, according to officials.
Internal collusion discovered
Recent covert operations have also exposed worrying signs of internal complicity. Immigration teams at Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore flagged multiple attempts by passengers to circumvent travel regulations that officials suspect involved internal agency assistance.
Those revelations prompted an unannounced visit on Sunday by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain.
During the visit, officials briefed ministers on a case where a passenger seeking employment abroad as a driver was prevented from leaving because he did not have a valid driving license despite having what was marked as “Protector” authorization on his documentation.
Minister Hussain ordered an immediate investigation into the Protector’s verification system to determine how work-related travel documents are vetted and ensure the process cannot be manipulated. He added that citizens whose conduct brings the country into disrepute could be banned from international travel.
Administrative action
In response to the findings, the FIA has acted quickly to discipline personnel involved in the investigation. On Friday, FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar Raja dismissed three officials from service, including an inspector posted at the Anti-Terrorism Wing in Karachi and a sub-inspector attached to the Lahore airport.
The DG also recommended the dismissal of a sub-inspector of Sindh Police who was deputed to the FIA and imposed significant sanctions on four other officers for flawed investigations and misconduct.
Officials said these administrative measures are part of a broader effort to cleanse the agency of corrupt elements and bolster integrity at airport checkpoints. They added that investigations are continuing and that further action will be taken if additional evidence of wrongdoing emerges.
