Following the tragic deaths of several Pakistanis in maritime disasters in Europe, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has initiated a rigorous crackdown on illegal emigration at all of the country’s airports. Over the past month at Lahore Airport alone, around 2500 passengers have been offloaded on suspicion of carrying fake, forged, or incomplete documents. The FIA has not only targeted passengers with questionable documentation but also those possessing genuine papers, suspecting their involvement in illegal activities.
Most of the passengers offloaded were intending to travel to countries known as transit points for illegal emigrants including Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Iraq, Malaysia, Senegal, Ethiopia, Mauritania, Turkey, Qatar, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Kenya, Egypt, and Libya.
According to a spokesperson for the FIA in Lahore, stringent scrutiny is being carried out on passengers at Lahore Airport. Since January, a total of 2501 passengers have been offloaded due to fake or incomplete documentation. The FIA spokesperson disclosed that the travel history of passengers is being thoroughly reviewed, resulting in the arrest of 8 individuals for using fake documents. Additionally, 14 individuals suspected of begging have been taken into custody, with their cases referred to the Lahore Human Smuggling Circle.
The authorities have also prevented 9 fugitives wanted by Punjab Police from leaving the country. The FIA’s actions against human smugglers will continue, with a firm commitment to a zero-tolerance policy against this serious crime.
The stringent checks at the country’s international airports have also posed challenges for legitimate passengers holding genuine visas. Tour operators have requested authorities not to hinder the travel of passengers with authentic documents as it is affecting their businesses.
In a recent development, the FIA has dismissed 13 officials and halted the promotion of three constables, who were linked to the incident involving a Pakistani sailor in Greece in 2024.
Moreover, last month, the FIA restricted 65 of its officials from being posted at any immigration check post or anti-human smuggling circle in the country. This action follows the incident near Greece in December last year, where an illegal emigrant boat sank, resulting in the deaths of around 80 Pakistanis while 36 were rescued.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed action against human smugglers and their accomplices after this incident, leading to a nationwide crackdown on human smuggling activities.
