Minister warns false documents will not be tolerated, orders investigation into passenger complaint of inadequate staffing
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi ordered a strict crackdown on visa agents who exploit travelers during an unannounced visit to Islamabad International Airport on Saturday, saying people with genuine documents should not be barred from traveling abroad.
“No passenger with genuine and complete documents should ever be stopped from traveling,” Naqvi said in a post on X, adding that those trying to travel on fake or unverified documents would not be allowed under any circumstances as “such actions harm the reputation of Pakistan”.
Visited Islamabad Airport today and met passengers traveling abroad to hear their concerns directly.
Ordered a strict crackdown on visa agents who exploit innocent people. Became seriously aware of a passenger’s complaint on November 7 about low staffing at immigration and… pic.twitter.com/dP29uZw2bB
— Mohsin Naqvi (@MohsinnaqviC42) 29 November 2025
“Agent mafias who play with people’s future for money will face zero tolerance,” the minister warned.
He also took note of a passenger complaint from November 7 regarding inadequate staffing at the immigration counters, and ordered an investigative review of CCTV footage.
The development comes as the Federal Investigation Agency has intensified operations against illegal migration following a series of wiretaps at major airports involving forged documents and suspected internal collusion.
Immigration officers at the New Islamabad International Airport on Sunday relieved Muhammad Usman, who was trying to travel to Europe on an Umrah visa. Officials said he had been deported from Italy earlier this year and a search of his mobile phone turned up a tampered resident card. Earlier, an Afghan citizen was intercepted traveling on a forged Greek residence card.
Read: The FIA is intensifying efforts against illegal migration after a series of airport interceptions
Earlier this month, Naqvi and Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain paid an unannounced visit to Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport. Immigration officers stationed there had intercepted passengers who were allegedly trying to travel abroad illegally with the help of an insider.
During this visit, officials briefed ministers on a case where a passenger was prevented from traveling abroad as a driver because he lacked a valid driving license despite having “Protector” endorsement. Minister Hussain ordered an inquiry into the Protector verification system.
Read more: Random discharge
Naqvi warned that illegal travel would not be tolerated and ordered strict legal action against any FIA official found involved in aiding illegal travel.
On Friday, FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar Raja dismissed three officials from service, including an inspector and a sub-inspector. The Directorate General also imposed major sanctions on four other officers for flawed investigations and wrongdoing.
