Protector system under review as authorities investigate illegal travel facilitation
Security heightens across all Pakistani airports. PHOTO: FILE
Suspected collusion by an FIA official at Allama Iqbal International Airport has come to light after immigration officers intercepted passengers allegedly attempting to travel abroad illegally, officials said. The discovery has prompted an inquiry into how officials may have aided unauthorized departures.
The issue came to attention during routine immigration checks, when officers stopped a passenger suspected of receiving help from an FIA official to bypass travel regulations.
During an unannounced two-hour visit on Sunday, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain observed the immigration process at the airport. They spoke with passengers bound for international travel, inquiring about the process and ways to improve it.
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Naqvi warned that illegal travel will not be tolerated under any circumstance. He expressed concern over long queues at immigration counters and instructed officials to speed up processing to prevent delays and inconvenience for travelers.
Hussain also inspected the “Protector” stickers on travel documents. He cited a recent case in which a young man was barred from traveling abroad for a driving job due to lacking a driving license. The minister ordered an inquiry, emphasising that the Protector system must ensure verification of all job-related travel documents.
Naqvi called in the staff who had stopped both passengers, praising them and rewarding them from his own pocket. He also announced commendation certificates for the staff members in question.
Further, Naqvi stated that any Pakistani whose actions could bring disrepute to the country would be barred from international travel. He also ordered for strict legal action to be taken against any official from the FIA who is found involved in aiding illegal travel.
