Travelers with complete papers stopped from flying abroad

Protector offices enforcing verbal bar, no written order issued

Over the past few months, multiple reports have surfaced accusing the Federal Investigation Agency(FIA) of offloading passengers at various airports across the country, despite possessing valid travel documents. Visa holders for Greece, Italy, Poland, and Baku are being prevented from traveling to these countries. Going abroad has essentially become a luxury.

Even after spending thousands of euros and dollars in visa and travel document fees and obtaining visas for Greece, Italy, Poland, and other European countries with great difficulty, hundreds of Pakistanis are being barred from traveling by their own institutions based solely on verbal orders.

Hundreds of Pakistanis, despite having complete visas and travel documents, are being forced to repeatedly visit the Protector of Emigrants' offices, yet their documents are not being "protected" for travel.

Visitors are told that "orders from above" prohibit the protection of travel documents for travelers going abroad for jobs as agricultural experts, drivers, or cleaners. Previously, people traveling for Umrah or jobs in Dubai were blocked on suspicion.

Now, even those who have paid visa fees in dollars, pounds, or euros are being prevented from traveling to Europe. There are no written orders, only verbal instructions, and all Protector offices nationwide are following them.

Even those going to Baku are being stopped. Their travel documents, employment certificates, and all required documents are complete, yet they are still denied permission to travel.

Read: FIA probes offloading of workers at airports

The FIA has dismissed such claims as mere rumours. FIA Lahore Zone Director Captain (retd) Ali Zia, in late November, issued a detailed clarification in a video message. According to him, certain elements are using AI-generated videos and images to give the impression that passengers are being offloaded without reason.

However, testimonies suggest these claims may be more than "mere rumours."

Adnan Younus and Mehboob Sabir told Express News that their fathers had lived in Greece for twenty years and had even passed away there, yet their visas were sent to them and thousands of euros were spent on fees, but their documents are not being protected. Officials claim, "Orders from above." When they ask to see a copy or proof of the order, officials refuse and, if questioned further, they are removed from the office.

Read more: FIA snubs social media buzz on overseas travel curbs

Mahboob said, "I am responsible. I applied for a visa for employment at a Greek farmhouse. I met all the requirements of the Greek embassy and received a one-year visa a month ago, yet my documents have not been verified."

Younus said he had applied for a housekeeping job and received a visa, but even then the Protector's office is not stamping his travel documents. He asked what his fault was—there is already unemployment in the country, and after struggling to obtain a visa, this new policy has been imposed with no clarity on how to proceed. When he contacted officials at the Protector of Emigrants' office, they said to ask the Secretary, claiming they know nothing and are only following orders. Nothing is in writing that can be provided to applicants.