Airports put on high alert

NOC requirement made mandatory for govt officials travelling abroad

RAWALPINDI:

High alert has been declared at all airports, especially the Islamabad International Airport, across the country due to the highly volatile political situation in the country.

The quarters concerned have directed the FIA immigration officers to strictly enforce the No Objection Certificate (NOC) ban on government officials and officers going abroad.

According to details, no government official will be allowed to travel abroad without an NOC as the political atmosphere in the country between Saturday and Sunday night was tense.

The patrolling of Airport Security Force commandos inside as well as at the entrance and the exit points of all airports has also increased.

While instructing the FIA immigration to remain on high alert at airports across the country, the quarters concerned made it mandatory for the government officials and important personalities to display their NOC. They directed that if there was any movement of important personalities, the authorities concerned should be informed.

A senior FIA official told The Express Tribune that no instructions had been received so far regarding any former minister or politician, but strict adherence to the NOC requirement had been made mandatory for the government officials.

The move comes as the opposition parties managed to obtain a parliamentary majority of 174 votes in the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Speaker Asad Qaiser and his deputy, Qasim Khan Suri, had resigned, paving the way for the Panel of Chairpersons to conduct the vote of no-confidence.