Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain paid a surprise visit to Lahore Airport. Both ministers stayed at the airport for two hours and reviewed the immigration process. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed displeasure after seeing the rush at the immigration counters and ordered that the process be completed swiftly. The two ministers also spoke to passengers travelling abroad and inquired about the immigration procedure.
Federal Minister Salik Hussain checked the Protector stickers on travel documents. A young man travelling abroad for a driver’s job under the Protector was stopped from travelling due to not possessing a driving licence. Salik Hussain expressed displeasure and ordered an inquiry. Due to the alleged collusion of an FIA official, a passenger travelling abroad was stopped at the counter by the immigration staff. The Interior Minister assured the off-loaded passenger that he would get his money back from the private company he had paid.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called the immigration officials who had stopped the two young men, praised them, rewarded them from his own pocket, and also announced commendation certificates for them.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that no passenger should be allowed to travel without the required documents. Illegal immigration will not be tolerated at all. He reiterated that no passenger who may bring disrepute to the country will be allowed to travel. He said that strict action will be taken against any FIA or other institutional officials involved.
Chaudhry Salik Hussain said that verification of valid employment documents under the Protector must be ensured in all cases.
Airport staff intercept passengers linked to suspected FIA official collusion
Suspected collusion by an FIA official at Allama Iqbal International Airport has come to light after immigration officers intercepted passengers allegedly attempting to travel abroad illegally, officials said. The discovery has prompted an inquiry into how officials may have aided unauthorized departures.
The issue came to attention during routine immigration checks, when officers stopped a passenger suspected of receiving help from an FIA official to bypass travel regulations.