FIA received over 154 complaints of wrongful passenger offloading, Senate told

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) received at least 154 complaints regarding the alleged wrongful offloading of passengers by immigration staff at major airports and regional offices during the reported period, according to official replies and internal documents submitted in response to Senate queries.

The details emerged during the 360th Session of the Senate in response to Starred Question No. 27 moved by Senator Jan Muhammad. The senator asked the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control to state how many complaints against FIA immigration staff regarding wrongful offloading were received during the last year and what action was taken in each case.

Separate replies were submitted by FIA immigration authorities from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi airports, while another official document from the FIA Faisalabad Zone also disclosed complaints related to alleged wrongful offloading.

In all responses, the FIA maintained that after scrutiny and detailed examination, the offloading in most cases was found “justified.”

Islamabad airport reported 62 complaints

According to the reply submitted by FIA Immigration at Islamabad International Airport (IIAP), a total of 62 complaints regarding offloading were received during the reported period.

The response stated that all complaints were assigned to concerned FIA officers at IIAP Islamabad for submission of detailed reports. FIA officials said the reports were received along with a “comprehensive analysis,” after which the complaints were resolved.

The FIA stated that examinations found most passengers were offloaded due to:

• insufficient show of money,
• lack of confirmed hotel bookings,
• unclear or unjustified purpose of travel,
• while some passengers were offloaded directly by airline authorities.

The document was issued under file number F. No. 14/07/2026-Council and signed by the Assistant Director, FIA Immigration IIAP Islamabad.

Lahore airport received 32 complaints

In a separate response, FIA Immigration at Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIAP) Lahore informed the Senate that 32 complaints regarding unlawful offloading of passengers were received in 2025.

According to the reply, detailed reports were submitted to:

• Complaint Cell & I&M, FIA Lahore Zone,
• Wafaqi Mohtasib,
• Pakistan Airport Authority/Civil Aviation Authority at AIIAP Lahore.

The FIA maintained that all complaints were reviewed and the offloading in each case was found justified.

The Lahore response listed several reasons for offloading, including:

• insufficient funds,
• lack of confirmed hotel bookings,
• missing protector stamp requirements,
• incomplete education-related documents,
• “OK to board” requirements,
• unclear purpose of travel,
• incomplete travel documents.

Karachi airport recorded 54 complaints

Meanwhile, FIA Immigration at Jinnah International Airport (JIAP) Karachi told the Senate that 54 complaints regarding offloading were received during the reported period.

The response stated that all complaints were assigned to the Assistant Director Departure, FIA Immigration JIAP Karachi, for preparation of detailed reports. The findings were later forwarded to the office of the Director, Karachi Zone.

According to the FIA, a “comprehensive analysis” concluded that the offloading in each case was justified. Officials cited the following common reasons:

• insufficient show of money,
• lack of confirmed hotel bookings,
• unjustified or unclear purpose of travel.

FIA Faisalabad Zone disclosed six additional complaints

Another official FIA document, dated April 9, 2026, revealed that six complaints were received during the past year against immigration officials over the alleged wrongful offloading of passengers.

The document was issued by the Office of the Deputy Director Immigration and addressed to the Deputy Director I&M, FIA Faisalabad Zone, in connection with the Senate Starred Questions of the 360th Session.

According to the FIA, the complaints concerned allegations that passengers were wrongly stopped from traveling abroad by immigration staff. However, the agency stated that after reviewing the cases and examining the complainants’ documents, officials concluded that the passengers lacked the “requisite travel documentation.”

“The complainants were duly contacted who appeared in person. Upon scrutiny of their documents, it was observed that they were lacking the requisite travel documentation,” the document stated.

The FIA added that passengers were later advised to fulfill the necessary travel requirements and subsequently completed their travel successfully.

According to the document, passengers frequently visit the office of the Deputy Director before departure and after offloading incidents to seek guidance and clarification regarding their travel documents.

The FIA stated that cases are examined “on merit” and assistance is provided to help passengers comply with travel requirements.

The agency also disclosed that a pre-departure facilitation desk has been established at the Faisalabad Zonal Office to guide travelers regarding documentation and immigration procedures.

“As a result of this proactive measure, instances of offloading have been considerably reduced,” the document stated.

Background

Passenger offloading has remained a contentious issue in Pakistan in recent years, particularly affecting labor migrants, Umrah pilgrims, visit visa holders, students and first-time travelers.

Rights groups, travel agents and affected passengers have repeatedly raised concerns over transparency, inconsistent criteria, arbitrary questioning and the absence of written explanations in offloading cases, despite travelers possessing valid visas and passports.

Social media platforms have also witnessed increasing complaints from passengers alleging humiliation and financial losses after being stopped from boarding flights at the last moment.

Immigration authorities, however, defend the practice as part of measures aimed at preventing illegal migration, human smuggling, deportation risks and visa misuse.

The Senate questions raised by Senator Jan Muhammad have brought official figures related to complaints against FIA immigration staff into the public record, offering rare insight into the scale of grievances linked to passenger offloading practices at Pakistan’s airports and immigration offices.