Several passengers caught using false documents as investigation extends to all airports
View of the Islamabad International Airport building during a media tour ahead of its official opening, Pakistan, April 18, 2018. Source: REUTERS
ISLAMABAD:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has stepped up its sweeping campaign against illegal immigration and suspicions of internal collusion after a series of interceptions at major airports involving false documents and, authorities say, possible insider help.
Immigration officials at the new Islamabad International Airport on Sunday landed a passenger, Muhammad Usman, who was trying to travel to Europe on an Umrah visa.
Usman was identified when flight PK-713 was cleared, and authorities said an initial investigation revealed that he had been deported from Italy earlier this year and had remained in contact with several travel agents. A search of his cellphone revealed a falsified resident card with an altered expiration date, officials added.
Authorities have described the episode as part of a trend in which travelers seek to exploit religious travel visas and falsified documents to reach European destinations. Usman, they said, appears to have planned to continue his journey from Saudi Arabia to Europe using fake documents. He was taken into custody and handed over to FIA Composite Circle in Gujranwala for further legal action.
Earlier this week, officers at the same Islamabad airport intercepted an Afghan national, Jannat Gul Niazi, who was taken off France-bound flight PK-749 after immigration staff discovered he was traveling with a fake Greek resident card, according to authorities.
Internal collusion revealed
Recent undercover operations have also revealed worrying signs of internal complicity. Immigration teams at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal International Airport reported multiple attempts by passengers to circumvent travel regulations that authorities suspect involved assistance within the agency.
These revelations gave rise to an unannounced visit on Sunday by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain.
During the visit, officials informed ministers of a case in which a passenger seeking employment abroad as a driver was prevented from leaving because he did not hold a valid driving license despite having a ‘Protector’ clearance on his documents.
Minister Hussain has ordered an immediate investigation into the Protector verification system to determine how employment-related travel documents are verified and to ensure the process cannot be manipulated. He added that citizens whose conduct brings the country into disrepute could be barred from international travel.
Administrative action
In response to the findings, the FIA acted quickly to discipline personnel involved in the investigation. FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar Raja on Friday fired three officials, including an inspector posted at the anti-terrorism wing in Karachi and a sub-inspector attached to the Lahore airport.
The DG also recommended removal of a Sindh Police sub-inspector who was deputed to the FIA and imposed strict sanctions on four other officers for faulty investigations and misconduct.
Officials said the administrative measures were part of a broader effort to cleanse the agency of corrupt elements and strengthen integrity at airport checkpoints. They added that investigations are continuing and further action will follow if new evidence of wrongdoing emerges.
