LHC issues fresh guidelines over offloading citizens

Court says immigration officials must record detailed, meaningful reasons before offloading any passenger

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued fresh guidelines restricting the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from offloading passengers travelling abroad without valid legal grounds, ruling that citizens possessing valid visas, tickets, and travel documents cannot be stopped merely based on vague suspicions or apprehensions.

The court directed that immigration officials must record detailed and meaningful reasons before offloading any passenger. It further ordered that all questions asked of passengers, along with their replies, must be properly documented.

The court ruled that the right to travel abroad is a fundamental constitutional right and that the FIA’s powers are not unlimited.

The judgment also directed authorities to electronically preserve interviews or conversations wherever possible and provide a copy of the offloading order or proforma to the affected passenger.

The court emphasised that recording reasons is not a mere formality but a legal requirement, adding that administrative powers must be exercised transparently, fairly and strictly in accordance with the law.

Meanwhile, the court declared the FIA’s decision to offload a citizen from travelling to Nigeria illegal despite the passenger having all the required travel documents. The ruling came on a petition filed by citizen Muhammad Abbas.

In a nine-page written judgment, Justice Raheel Kamran observed that the petitioner had challenged the FIA action after being offloaded despite holding valid travel documents, a visa, and an air ticket.

Read: Government stands firm on offloadings

According to the petitioner, he had already received immigration clearance and a boarding card before he was suddenly stopped from boarding the flight.

The FIA had argued that the petitioner was prevented from travelling due to concerns that he might not return from Dubai. However, the court noted that the petitioner was neither wanted in any criminal case nor part of any inquiry, blacklist, or Exit Control List (ECL).

The judgment stated that the offloading caused the petitioner financial loss, mental distress, and reputational damage.

The court further observed that the petitioner’s explanation for travelling to Nigeria to visit his brother was not unreasonable, and the FIA had failed to record any valid reason for rejecting his explanation.

The judgment added that the affected citizen may also approach the relevant forum to seek compensation for damages.

In late 2025, multiple reports accused the FIA of offloading passengers at various airports despite them having valid travel documents. According to these reports, visa holders for Greece, Italy, Poland and Baku have been prevented from travelling.

Hundreds of Pakistanis with complete visas and documents also complained that they are being forced to repeatedly visit offices of the Protector of Emigrants, yet their papers are not being “protected” for travel.

Some travellers say they were told that “orders from above” bar the protection of documents for those going abroad for jobs such as agricultural workers, drivers or cleaners. In earlier cases, passengers travelling for Umrah or jobs in Dubai were also blocked on suspicion.

The FIA dismissed the allegations as rumours. In late November, FIA Lahore Zone Director Captain (retd) Ali Zia issued a detailed clarification in a video message, saying certain elements were using AI-generated videos and images to create the impression that passengers were being offloaded without reason.

Read More: NA seeks probe into offloading of passengers at airports

However, passenger testimonies suggest the issue may be more widespread. Some travellers say even those who paid visa fees in dollars, pounds or euros are now being stopped from travelling to Europe, with no written orders provided and only verbal instructions being cited by officials across protector offices nationwide.

According to the FIA, 66,154 passengers were offloaded in 2025 alone.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also took notice of reports of passengers being offloaded and ordered the formation of a committee to investigate the issue.

However, the state has continued to defend the policy. Minister of State for Interior & Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry told the National Assembly on May 23 that passengers travelling abroad, even with valid passports and visas, are sometimes subjected to additional profiling and screening to stop misuse of legal travel channels.

He argued that this system helps identify high-risk travel patterns linked to smuggling networks, though it has also led to complaints from passengers who were offloaded despite having complete documents.

He said strengthened monitoring has reduced illegal migration attempts by an estimated 47 per cent, calling it a significant improvement. The minister stated that, "2,222 people have been offloaded under the E-Exit system."