The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) has strongly refuted media reports claiming that a passenger was robbed of cryptocurrency worth $850,000 at Jinnah International Airport (JIAP), calling the allegations “baseless and misleading.”
The clarification followed widespread social and electronic media coverage of a court petition filed by a citizen, Mr Faizyab, who alleged that on September 30, two men in plain clothes intercepted him at JIAP, took him into a private room, confiscated his mobile phone, and transferred digital assets from his account.
According to the complaint, the incident occurred when he was preparing to travel to Peshawar, but instead of boarding, he was allegedly detained and robbed. The petitioner approached the District and Sessions Court in Malir after the police reportedly declined to register a First Information Report (FIR) on the matter.
During a hearing this week, the Malir court directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Malir to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the allegations. The investigation is to be led by an officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Police also submitted a report and a USB containing relevant evidence to the court.
The PAA, in coordination with the Airport Security Force (ASF) and local police authorities, initiated an immediate internal probe after the reports surfaced. In an official statement, the PAA said that the complainant did not report any such incident to ASF or PAA at the time.
CCTV footage, jointly reviewed by ASF and PAA officials, showed no evidence of any such occurrence. Airline records indicated that the complainant was a no-show for his flight to Peshawar, while the police report submitted to the court confirmed that no such event took place within the airport premises.
“The Pakistan Airports Authority wishes to reassure all passengers that the airport’s security and surveillance systems are fully functional and continuously monitored,” the statement said. “Unverified and speculative reporting on such sensitive matters can cause unnecessary public concern and should be avoided.”
The case has reignited public debate on security at airports and the protection of digital financial assets amid Pakistan’s growing crypto-currency trade. In January 2025, another crypto-related robbery in Karachi made headlines when a digital currency trader was reportedly kidnapped and robbed of $340,000 in crypto-currency by individuals, including alleged police officials.