Islamabad (Crime Reporter)
The issue of offloading passengers traveling abroad at airports came under intense discussion in the National Assembly’s standing committee, where the Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) disclosed alarming details related to illegal migration, begging, and human smuggling.
Briefing the committee, the DG FIA revealed that during the current year, as many as 51,000 individuals were offloaded from traveling abroad for various reasons. He informed the members that Saudi Arabia alone deported 24,000 Pakistanis on charges of begging, while 6,000 were deported from Dubai and 2,500 from Azerbaijan.
The committee was told that several passengers attempted to travel to Europe under the guise of performing Umrah. In multiple cases, passengers holding Umrah visas were found in possession of European travel documents, leading to their offloading along with supporting evidence.
According to the DG FIA, out of 24,000 Pakistanis who traveled to Cambodia, 12,000 are still missing. Similarly, nearly 2,500 out of 4,000 Pakistanis who went to Myanmar (Burma) on tourist visas have not returned. The briefing further revealed that Pakistan ranks among the top five countries involved in illegal migration to Europe. Last year, 8,000 Pakistanis reached Europe illegally, while 4,000 have done so during the current year.
The committee was also informed that a total of 56,000 Pakistanis have so far been deported from Saudi Arabia on charges of begging. Additionally, Dubai and Germany have withdrawn visa-free facilities on Pakistani official passports, creating significant difficulties for Pakistani travelers.
The DG FIA disclosed that human smuggling networks are actively using routes through Ethiopia and Zambia to smuggle individuals into Europe. He highlighted that the FIA staff at Islamabad Airport is insufficient compared to the growing workload and pressure, and a detailed report regarding this issue has been submitted to the committee.
The briefing also exposed a major fake football club scandal, in which even a physically disabled individual managed to reach Japan through fraudulent documentation. It was revealed that in 2022, a similar team was sent to Japan through a fake football club, and investigations into the matter are currently underway.
The DG FIA further informed the committee that a new immigration application is set to be launched in mid-January to enhance passenger scrutiny. Under the new system, travelers will be required to obtain clearance at least 24 hours prior to departure. The committee, taking note of the seriousness of the issue, stressed the need for effective measures and strict monitoring to curb illegal migration and related crimes.