GUJRAT: Immigration authorities at Sialkot International Airport offloaded nine passengers on Sunday who were attempting to travel to an African country before proceeding illegally toward Europe. The passengers were intercepted while boarding flight FZ316 to Djibouti via Dubai, officials said.
According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the individuals could not justify the purpose of their travel during routine questioning. Upon further interrogation, they confessed to having paid Rs4.2 million each to human traffickers who had promised to send them to Italy via the Libyan coast after their arrival in Djibouti.
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The offloaded passengers belonged to Gujrat, Sialkot, Narowal, Faisalabad and Sheikhupura districts. Officials said they were later handed over to the FIA Composite Circle in Gujranwala for legal action under anti-trafficking laws. Authorities believe the group was part of a growing trend in which young men attempt to reach Europe through high-risk sea routes facilitated by organized trafficking networks.
However, the growing vigilance of immigration officials has triggered frustration among genuine travelers. Businessmen and tourists report being repeatedly stopped, questioned and even offloaded despite possessing valid documents, citing what they call an excessively strict approach at airports across Punjab.
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Ahmed Hassan Mattu, President of the Gujrat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said numerous businessmen had complained about missing flights from Lahore and Sialkot airports despite carrying recommendation letters and complete documentation. He urged authorities to differentiate between suspicious travelers and legitimate businesspersons.
Similar concerns were raised by President of the UK-Pak Businessmen Chamber, Rashid Khan, who recounted his own uncomfortable experience at Sialkot Airport. He criticized what he described as a “discouraging attitude” toward overseas Pakistanis, calling for higher authorities to intervene.
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When contacted, Gujranwala FIA Zone Director Muhammad Bin Ashraf denied the existence of any new or harsh policy. He said immigration staff were only offloading passengers carrying fake documents or those with suspicious travel motives.