ISLAMABAD: The Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi directed authorities at Islamabad International Airport to ensure that no passenger carrying “genuine and complete documents” is prevented from travelling abroad, as concerns continue to grow over reports of passengers being offloaded despite holding valid travel papers.
Furthermore, the minister issued the directive during a visit to the airport, where he met travellers to hear their grievances firsthand. The visit comes amid months of heightened scrutiny at airports across the country following a major crackdown on migrant smuggling.
The campaign intensified after last year’s Greece boat tragedy, which claimed the lives of numerous Pakistanis and prompted renewed efforts to curb illegal migration networks.
Moreover, Naqvi said he had instructed officials to take decisive action against visa agents exploiting citizens seeking overseas travel opportunities.
“Ordered a strict crackdown against visa agents exploiting innocent people,” he stated, adding that the government would not allow such networks to continue operating.
In this regard, Naqvi also took notice of a complaint lodged on November 7 regarding understaffing at immigration counters.
He directed an immediate inquiry into the matter, including a review of CCTV footage, to determine the cause of delays and ensure that passengers faced no unnecessary inconvenience.
In this sense, he emphasized the government’s stance, and the minister reasserted that passengers with legitimate documents must not be stopped under any circumstances.
However, he stressed that individuals attempting to travel using fake or unverified documents would not be permitted to proceed.
“Such actions damage Pakistan’s reputation,” he said, confirming that authorities would remain vigilant against attempts to misuse travel channels.
He further warned that “agent mafias playing with people’s futures for money will face zero tolerance,” confirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding citizens and upholding international travel regulations.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) clarified that passengers were only offloaded if they lacked valid documentation or were suspected of links to migrant smuggling operations.
The agency also initiated legal proceedings against individuals spreading false information on social media about the offloading of travellers.
On the contrary, the wave of terrorism is also at its peak to the maximum extent. In such a scenario, a while back he visited Wana Cadet College, North Wazirista, where he analyzed the security situation after the deadly attack by Khawarij.
FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar confirmed that reports of passengers being offloaded had surfaced at Lahore and Karachi airports. He added that investigations were underway to determine the circumstances of those incidents and to improve procedures where necessary.
