Interior Minister warns agent mafias against playing with people's futures for money
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday instructed officials at Islamabad International Airport to ensure that no passenger with “genuine and complete documents” is prevented from travelling.
The directive follows months of rising complaints from travellers who were offloaded despite holding valid visas and travel papers — a trend linked to the government’s intensified crackdown on migrant smuggling after last year’s Greece boat tragedy.
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clarifies no passengers with valid documents being stopped at airports
In a post on X, Naqvi said he visited the airport to speak with outbound passengers and listen to their concerns. He ordered a strict crackdown on visa agents exploiting travellers and took serious notice of a complaint from November 7 regarding insufficient staffing at immigration counters. He also called for an immediate inquiry along with a review of CCTV footage.
Naqvi reiterated that passengers attempting to travel with fake or unverified documents will not be allowed to board under any circumstances, noting that such actions damage Pakistan’s reputation. “Agent mafias playing with people’s futures for money will face zero tolerance,” he said.
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minister orders to stop offloading workers at airports
The minister’s statement comes days after the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) clarified that passengers are offloaded only when they lack valid documentation or are suspected of involvement in migrant smuggling networks. The FIA has also initiated legal proceedings against individuals spreading misinformation about offloading incidents online.
Earlier, FIA Director General Riffat Mukhtar acknowledged cases of offloading at Lahore and Karachi airports and confirmed that investigations are ongoing.
Source: Pro Pakistani