FIA Sialkot dismisses bribery claims over passenger offloading

Speaking to Minute Mirror, Deputy Director Immigration FIA Sialkot Rai Nasarullah described allegations of corruption as generalised claims and said passengers are stopped

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Sialkot has rejected allegations that passengers are being offloaded from flights in exchange for bribes, maintaining that immigration decisions are now subject to documentation, oversight and defined procedures aimed primarily at preventing human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Speaking to Minute Mirror, Deputy Director Immigration FIA Sialkot Rai Nasarullah described allegations of corruption as generalised claims and said passengers are stopped only when there are legitimate concerns relating to illegal migration or possible exploitation by human-smuggling networks.

Rai Nasarullah said many of the passengers intercepted at immigration counters could themselves be vulnerable to organised smuggling networks. He explained that some individuals travel to the Middle East on Umrah or visit visas before being moved through other countries towards Libya, where smugglers allegedly attempt to send them to Europe by sea.

He referred to fatal maritime incidents involving migrants as a major reason for intensified screening, saying the purpose of immigration checks was to prevent people from falling victim to dangerous smuggling routes rather than restrict lawful travel.

The FIA official also highlighted risks associated with certain routes in the African region, where porous borders and irregular migration networks can expose travellers to serious difficulties.

Clarifying concerns over restrictions on international travel, Rai Nasarullah said Pakistani citizens are free to travel to any country for which they possess a valid visa. He stressed that immigration screening should not be interpreted as a general prohibition on overseas travel, but as a measure intended to identify cases involving illegal migration and trafficking.

According to the official, recent policy measures introduced under the leadership of Federal Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi and FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar have also sought to reduce discretionary powers at airports and provide passengers with clearer avenues for review and complaints.

Under Circular 2/2026, passengers who are offloaded have the right to seek a review from the in-charge of the relevant airport, who is required to decide the matter within three days. Circular 4/2026 establishes procedures governing immigration checks upon arrival, while Circular 5/2026 significantly restricts the discretionary authority of immigration officers to offload passengers at departure.

The FIA maintains that departure offloading must now be supported by proper documentation, with the stated objective of preventing trafficking in persons and the smuggling of migrants while ensuring greater accountability in immigration decisions.

Rai Nasarullah said the revised framework has contributed to a reduction in complaints and litigation related to offloading, attributing the change to greater procedural clarity and oversight.

In another step aimed at addressing public grievances, FIA Sialkot has installed QR codes for feedback and complaint registration at the Pre-Departure Facilitation Desk in the Pakistan Block on the first floor of Sialkot International Airport.

Passengers can scan the QR codes to submit complaints or feedback directly to the FIA, providing an additional mechanism for travellers to report concerns regarding the immigration process.