The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has explained why some passengers are being stopped from boarding flights, saying only those with invalid travel documents or suspected links to human smugglers are offloaded.
FIA Lahore Zone Director Captain (R) Muhammad Ali Zia said that several viral videos claiming “random offloading” are false and AI-generated. He added that social media posts suggesting that passengers are stopped “without any reason” are completely misleading.
Why Passengers Are Being Offloaded
According to FIA, passengers are stopped when:
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Their travel documents are not valid
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The company mentioned on the visa does not exist
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Work permits or job letters turn out to be fake
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They try to leave on an Umrah visa for non-Umrah travel
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They travel with smugglers or suspicious facilitators
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They were previously deported for illegal entry abroad
Zia said many people fall victim to migrant smuggling gangs, who charge heavy amounts and send them abroad using fake documents or dangerous illegal routes. Such cases often lead to deportation and FIA investigations.
Smugglers Behind Online Rumours
FIA believes human trafficking networks are spreading fake stories online to create panic and avoid law enforcement. This misinformation, he said, also damages Pakistan’s international reputation and makes visa approval harder for genuine travelers.
FIA’s Assurance
FIA has assured that:
✔ Genuine passengers with valid documents will not be stopped
✔ Immigration teams are trained to help and facilitate lawful travelers
✔ Only suspicious cases will be offloaded after document verification
The agency urged the public to trust official updates only and ignore AI-generated or fabricated videos circulating online.
Source: dawn
