Airport Security Force (ASF) personnel stand guard at international arrivals at Islamabad International Airport. Photo: REUTERS
Over the past few months, several reports have surfaced accusing the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of disembarking passengers at various airports in the country despite having valid travel documents. Visa holders for Greece, Italy, Poland and Baku cannot travel to these countries. Going abroad has essentially become a luxury.
Even after spending thousands of euros and dollars on visa fees and travel documents and obtaining visas for Greece, Italy, Poland and other European countries with great difficulty, hundreds of Pakistanis are being banned from traveling by their own institutions based solely on verbal orders.
Hundreds of Pakistanis, despite having visas and full travel documents, are forced to repeatedly visit the offices of the Emigrant Protector, but their documents are not “protected” for travel.
Visitors are told that “orders from above” prohibit the protection of travel documents for travelers going abroad to work as agricultural experts, drivers or cleaners. Previously, people traveling for Umrah or work in Dubai were blocked on suspicion.
Now even those who paid visa fees in dollars, pounds or euros are barred from traveling to Europe. There are no written orders, only verbal instructions, and all offices of the Protector of the Land follow them.
Even those who go to Baku are arrested. Their travel documents, employment certificates and all required documents are complete, but they are still denied permission to travel.
Read: FIA investigates offloading of workers at airports
The FIA has dismissed the allegations as mere rumours. In late November, FIA Lahore Zonal Director Captain (retd) Ali Zia issued a detailed clarification in a video message. He said some elements use AI-generated videos and images to make it appear passengers are being disembarked for no reason.
However, reports suggest that these claims may be more than “just rumors.”
Adnan Younus and Mehboob Sabir told Express News that their fathers had been living in Greece for twenty years and even died there, but their visas were sent to them and thousands of euros were spent on fees, but their documents are not protected. Officials say: “The orders come from above.” When asked to see a copy or proof of the order, officials refuse and, if questioned further, are kicked out of the office.
Learn more: FIA snubs social media buzz over foreign travel restrictions
Mahboob said: “I am responsible. I applied for a visa for a job on a Greek farm. I met all the requirements of the Greek embassy and received a one-year visa a month ago, but my documents were not verified.”
Younus said he applied for a housekeeping job and obtained a visa, but even then the Protector’s office does not stamp his travel documents. He asked what his fault was: there is already unemployment in the country and after having difficulty obtaining a visa, this new policy was imposed without any clarity on how to proceed. When he contacted officials at the Office of the Protector of Emigrants, they told him to ask the secretary, saying they know nothing and are just following orders. Nothing is written that can be provided to candidates.
