Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel stand guard at international arrivals at Islamabad International Airport. Photo: REUTERS
In recent months, multiple reports have emerged accusing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of offloading passengers at various airports across the country, despite possessing valid travel documents. Visa holders for Greece, Italy, Poland and Baku are prevented from traveling to these countries. Traveling abroad has essentially become a luxury.
Even after spending thousands of euros and dollars on visas and travel documents and obtaining visas for Greece, Italy, Poland and other European countries with great difficulty, hundreds of Pakistanis are banned from traveling by their own institutions based solely on verbal orders.
Hundreds of Pakistanis, despite having full visas and travel documents, are forced to repeatedly visit the offices of the Protector of Emigrants, but their documents are not “secured” for travel.
Visitors are told that “superior orders” prohibit the protection of travel documents of travelers traveling abroad to work as agricultural experts, drivers or cleaners. Previously, people traveling to perform Umrah or work in Dubai were blocked on suspicion.
Now, even those who have paid visa fees in dollars, pounds or euros are prevented from traveling to Europe. There are no written orders, only verbal instructions, and all Protectora offices nationwide follow them.
Even those who go to Baku are prevented from entering. Their travel documents, employment certificates and all required documents are complete, but they are still denied permission to travel.
Read: The FIA investigates the dismissal of workers at airports
The FIA has dismissed such claims as mere rumours. Captain (retd) Ali Zia, FIA Zone Director in Lahore, issued a detailed clarification in a video message in late November. According to him, certain elements use AI-generated videos and images to give the impression that passengers are being dropped off for no reason.
However, testimonies suggest that these claims may be more than “mere rumors.”
Adnan Younus and Mehboob Sabir told Express News that their parents had lived in Greece for twenty years and even died there, but they were issued visas and spent thousands of euros on fees, but their documents are not protected. Officials claim: “Orders from above.” When they ask to see a copy or proof of the order, officials refuse and, if questioned further, are removed from office.
Read more: FIA ignores social media rumors about foreign travel restrictions
Mahboob said: “I am responsible. I applied for a visa to work on a Greek farm. I fulfilled all the requirements of the Greek embassy and received a one-year visa a month ago, but my documents have not been verified.”
Younus said he had applied for a cleaning job and received a visa, but the Protector’s office still did not stamp his travel documents. He asked what his fault was: there is already unemployment in the country and, after struggling to obtain a visa, this new policy has been imposed without clarity on how to proceed. When he contacted officials at the Office of the Protector of Emigrants, they told him to ask the Secretary, claiming that they know nothing and are only following orders. There is nothing in writing that can be given to applicants.
