Lahore, November 27, 2025 – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has strongly refuted claims of random passenger offloading at Pakistani airports, insisting that only individuals with invalid documents or suspected of falling prey to human smugglers are being stopped.
“Arbitrary Offloading” Reports Debunked: FIA Says Only Suspected Smuggling Victims & Fraudulent Cases Barred from Travel
“All Rumours Have No Connection with Reality,” Says FIA Lahore Director
In a video statement released Thursday, FIA Lahore Zone Director Capt (retd) Muhammad Ali Zia dismissed viral AI-generated videos and social media posts alleging arbitrary harassment of genuine travellers.“Those denied boarding either lack valid documents or hold visas issued by non-existent companies – clear red flags for human trafficking networks,” Zia explained.
Greece & Mauritania Tragedies Prompt Strict Screening
Following last year’s deadly Greece boat disaster that claimed dozens of Pakistani lives, authorities intensified checks on indirect routes and suspicious travel patterns. Zia revealed smugglers often exploit Umrah visas or accompany victims disguised as family members to bypass controls.“Many innocent people are shown dreams of Europe, pay huge sums, only to be abandoned or deported – or worse,” he warned.
“All those who are denied from going abroad are refused due to them not having valid documents, or if they have permits or visas wherein the companies stated do not exist and we have suspicions that human smugglers are trapping them,’’ FIA official said.https://t.co/TyDu0Qwhr2
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 27, 2025
Business Community Protests, FIA Vows Facilitation for Legitimate Travellers
Despite complaints from the Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and affected passengers reported by BBC Urdu, the FIA maintained no new “harsh policy” exists. Officials insist profiling targets trafficking victims, not genuine workers, students, or tourists.“We facilitate everyone travelling for legitimate purposes with proper documentation,” Zia assured, urging the public to ignore misinformation spread by smuggling rings to create unrest.
The agency warned that fabricated content undermines institutional credibility and further damages the green passport’s global reputation. Citizens have been advised to rely solely on official FIA channels for accurate information.
