Travelers denounce humiliating treatment and the authorities’ refusal to provide explanations
RAWALPINDI:
Allegations of inexperience, negligence and administrative indifference have emerged within the immigration wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at Islamabad’s New International Airport following two separate incidents in which Pakistani passengers were allegedly disembarked from international flights despite possessing valid travel documents and visas.
According to complaints from affected passengers, not only junior immigration staff but also senior administrative officials did not address the matter adequately. The incidents involved two Pakistani nationals traveling separately to South Africa and Türkiye, who claim they were prevented from boarding despite having complete legal documentation.
Passengers accused FIA immigration officials of behaving in a humiliating manner and refusing to provide satisfactory explanations for discharge decisions.
Efforts were made to get a response from the Deputy Director of Immigration at New Islamabad International Airport, Hina Munawar, as well as the FIA spokesperson, but no official statement was issued despite repeated requests for comment.
A passenger, identified as Shehzad Gondal, recorded a video at the airport which was later widely circulated on social media. In the images, he claims that he possessed a valid South African visa to travel from Islamabad to Cape Town, along with confirmed hotel reservations, a return ticket worth Rp550,000 and approximately US$1,500 for travel expenses.
Gondal claimed that he had traveled extensively over the past 20 years and had multiple visas and travel records in his passport. However, he alleged that FIA immigration officials dismissed him without providing clear justification, repeatedly claiming that South Africa had imposed restrictions preventing Pakistani nationals from traveling on newly issued visas.
Questioning the rationale for the decision, the passenger claimed that if South Africa had granted him a visa after collecting the required fee in dollars, then any decision on deportation should rest with South African authorities and not Pakistani immigration officials.
He further complained that despite the long wait and repeated requests, he was denied a meeting with the vice principal, who allegedly refused to see him from inside her office. Gondal appealed to the Home Minister and FIA Director General to take note of the incident and ensure justice.
In another recent case, a businessman identified as Abrar, allegedly involved in metal trading, alleged that he too was taken off a flight at the Lahore airport. According to the passenger, immigration staff objected after noticing a TikTok video of a travel agent appearing on their mobile phone screen.
Abrar claimed that he repeatedly offered to allow officials to inspect his phone and check whether he had any contact or communication with agents involved in illegal immigration, but alleged that his explanation was not heeded.
He stated that after traveling to Islamabad and getting his travel documents verified at an FIA office, he again attempted to depart internationally from Islamabad airport but was once again denied permission to travel.
He further alleged that an FIA immigration officer tore up his boarding pass, despite his repeated pleas to return it so that he could at least request a refund for his flight ticket.
Despite repeated attempts to contact FIA immigration authorities regarding the complaints and widely circulated passenger videos, no formal response had been issued at the time of filing this report.
