The Immigration Wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday rejected what it termed misleading news circulating in sections of the media regarding the offloading of 23 passengers bound for Bahrain.
According to an FIA spokesperson, the passengers, all traveling on Pakistani passports with work visas, were referred for further examination as part of routine immigration procedures. Initially, the individuals claimed they had secured employment through relatives.
However, during detailed scrutiny, their statements were found to be false and misleading. The spokesperson said the passengers later admitted that they had obtained jobs through agents.
The FIA noted that all 23 passengers were booked on the same flight under suspicious circumstances. Additionally, they failed to provide clear information about the nature and details of their employment, and none possessed a valid Foreign Service Agreement.
Based on these findings, immigration authorities decided to offload all passengers. They have been instructed to complete legal requirements and obtain clearance from the pre-departure immigration desk before traveling again.
The FIA reiterated its commitment to facilitating genuine travellers while taking strict action against human trafficking in accordance with the law.