A file photo of Islamabad International Airport. PHOTO: AFP
RAWALPINDI:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has dismissed as mere rumours, social media claims that Pakistanis traveling abroad on work and visit visas are being stopped at airports.
FIA Lahore Zone Director Captain (retd) Ali Zia issued a detailed clarification in a video message on Thursday. According to him, certain elements are using AI-generated videos and images to give the impression that passengers are being relieved for no reason and that those going abroad to look for work are being discouraged.
He said that this propaganda has no connection with reality. Passengers with valid visas and complete travel documents are not stopped, nor are obstacles created for them; instead, the FIA staff facilitates them and sends them off with respect.
He said the real challenge at airports is passengers who fall victim to people smugglers – those who change their route under the pretense of transit or change their destination mid-journey, leading to deportation.
He added that human trafficking has not only caused loss of life and ransom to Pakistani citizens, but has also adversely affected the reputation of Pakistan and the value of its passports. Due to this, many countries have tightened the visa policy for Pakistanis.
Zia clarified that FIA Immigration only stops those passengers whose documents are incomplete or whose visas and work permits raise doubts – especially in cases where the companies abroad do not actually exist or where concerns about people smuggling 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 bid farewell to those departing and bid farewell to those returning,” he said.
For complaints or queries, passengers can contact the FIA Zonal Offices or the Deputy Director of Immigration directly. He warned everyone not to give money to anyone for 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 regarding passengers being relieved by immigration.
Initially, more than 15 social media accounts have been identified as engaged in organized, baseless propaganda and promoting provincial discord. It is learned that the FIA has traced accounts spreading false information and has initiated a case.
According to sources, FIA Immigration at airports across the country has been conducting strict profiling for the past several months during the clearance of passengers traveling abroad for the first time on work or visitor visas.
During this process, those who cannot satisfy immigration officials or whose travel documents are incomplete undergo a detailed investigation. In a few cases, some such passengers are relieved from flights and asked to fill in missing documents.
However, many passengers suffer huge financial losses due to lost tickets. This situation has sparked a wave of criticism across various social media sites directed at the immigration process.
Over the past few months, several incidents have been reported of travelers being offloaded from flights at various airports despite having valid travel documents. The actions came after a crackdown on migrant smuggling following last year’s Greece boat tragedy that claimed several Pakistani lives. Earlier this month, FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar acknowledged that incidents of people being offloaded had been reported at Lahore and Karachi airports and that investigations were underway.
The number of relieved passengers from certain cities, age groups and specific destinations has seen an increase over the past few months. However, the increased vigilance of the immigration staff is irritating for genuine businessmen and tourists.
