An archive photograph of Islamabad International Airport. PHOTO: AFP
RAWALPINDI:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has dismissed as mere rumors claims on social media that Pakistanis traveling abroad on work and visit visas are being detained at airports.
Captain (retd) Ali Zia, FIA Zonal Director in Lahore, issued a detailed clarification in a video message on Thursday. According to him, some elements use AI-generated videos and images to give the impression that passengers are being discharged for no reason and that those who travel abroad in search of employment are discouraged.
He said that this propaganda has no connection with reality. Passengers with valid visas and complete travel documents are not detained or hindered; instead, FIA staff facilitate them and respectfully bid them farewell.
He stated that the real challenge at airports is passengers who are victims of human traffickers: those who change their route under the pretext of transit or alter their travel objectives mid-trip, leading to deportation.
He added that human trafficking has not only caused loss of life and rescue situations for Pakistani citizens but has also negatively affected Pakistan’s reputation and the value of its passport. Due to this, many countries have tightened visa policies for Pakistanis.
Zia clarified that FIA Immigration only detains those passengers whose documents are incomplete or whose visas and work permits raise questions, especially in cases where the overseas companies do not actually exist or where human trafficking concerns arise.
He said discharge decisions are made only after full investigation and profiling, so people should not pay attention to rumours. He noted that thousands of Pakistanis travel abroad every day.
“We say goodbye to those who leave and welcome those who return,” he said.
For complaints or queries, passengers can contact the FIA zonal offices or directly the Deputy Director of Immigration. He warned everyone not to give money to anyone to obtain immigration clearance, as the sole purpose of this propaganda network is financial gain.
The FIA has also initiated action under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 against those involved in spreading fabricated propaganda on social media about passengers being discharged by immigration.
Initially, more than 15 social media accounts have been identified as being involved in organized and unfounded propaganda and promoting provincial discord. It was learned that the FIA tracked down the accounts spreading false information and began proceedings.
According to sources, FIA Immigration at airports across the country has been carrying out strict profiling for the past few months during the clearance of passengers traveling abroad for the first time on work or visit visas.
During this process, those who cannot satisfy immigration officials or whose travel documents are incomplete undergo detailed scrutiny. In some cases, some of these passengers are taken off flights and asked to complete missing documents.
However, many passengers suffer great financial losses due to lost tickets. This situation has triggered a wave of criticism on several social media pages directed at the immigration process.
In recent months, numerous incidents have been reported of passengers being disembarked from flights at various airports, despite possessing valid travel documents. The actions came after a crackdown on migrant smuggling following the boat tragedy in Greece last year that claimed several Pakistani lives. Earlier this month, FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar acknowledged that incidents of people being unloaded had been reported at Lahore and Karachi airports, and that investigations were underway.
The rate of unloaded passengers from certain cities, age groups and specific destinations has seen an increase over the past few months. However, the extreme vigilance of immigration personnel irritates real businessmen and tourists.
