FIA Rejects Allegations of Offloading Passenger Without Reason
Islamabad: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has strongly denied baseless speculations circulating on social media suggesting that its immigration staff at Sialkot International Airport unjustifiably offloaded a passenger.
In an official clarification, the FIA stated that on July 10, 2025, a passenger named Waqas Akhtar, son of Muhammad Akhtar, arrived at the immigration counter of Sialkot International Airport to travel to Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa.
During initial checks, his travel history and previous immigration record revealed that he had traveled to the United Kingdom in 2010 and was deported in 2016 via an emergency passport due to illegal stay. Further scrutiny indicated that he had enrolled in a blacklisted college in the UK and remained illegally in the country for six years.
In light of this background, his profile matched the “risk profile record” maintained by FIA, and he was identified as a potential illegal immigrant. Therefore, he was offloaded in accordance with standard procedure.
The agency clarified that the passenger was not offloaded due to the absence of a Mahram (male guardian), as falsely alleged in the circulated video.
The FIA emphasized that its mandate under immigration laws includes verifying travel documents, reviewing travel history, and preventing illegal migration. The allegations presented in the viral video are unverified, one-sided, and malicious in intent, aiming to mislead the public and tarnish the institution’s image.
The FIA, as a responsible institution, firmly refutes any fabricated propaganda based on unverified information and reiterates that its top priorities remain the protection of national interest, adherence to legal requirements, and ensuring the safe travel of citizens.
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