The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued a strong interim order tightening rules on passenger offloading, directing authorities to provide written reasons on the spot whenever a citizen is stopped from traveling abroad.
Justice Ali Zia Bajwa passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Chaudhry Shehryar Qandeel, challenging his offloading despite holding valid travel documents.
No Offloading Without Legal Grounds
The court ruled that authorities cannot prevent a passenger from traveling if all required documents are complete, unless proper legal procedures are followed. Justice Bajwa observed that administrative discretion alone cannot override a citizen’s constitutional right to freedom of movement.
FIA Asked to Cite Legal Authority
During the hearing, FIA officials sought time to clarify the specific legal provisions under which passengers are offloaded moments before departure. The court directed government law officers to present exact statutory clauses that authorize such actions.
The judge emphasized that any restriction on personal liberty must be backed by clear legal authority, adding that stopping passengers without written justification violates constitutional protections.
Written Reasons Now Mandatory
The court noted that no written reasons were available on record in the petitioner’s case. However, a government law officer assured the court that written reasons would now be provided.
The ruling is expected to bring greater transparency and accountability to offloading practices at airports, offering relief to travelers facing last-minute restrictions.
