Sharp rise in Pak asylum claims worries UK envoy

British High Commissioner Jane Marriott on Saturday cautioned against agents deceiving asylum seekers with false assurances of UK settlement and financial gain, stressing that genuine applicants must submit their applications only through official online systems, so that those who are truly eligible can apply safely and without being misled by illegal facilitators.

While speaking with a local media outlet, she highlighted the tactics used by illegal agents who mislead people with false promises of migration to the United Kingdom.

She explained that the agents often exploited vulnerable individuals by offering deceptive assurances of asylum and settlement opportunities in exchange for money.

She further expressed concern over the rising number of Pakistani nationals applying for political asylum in the UK, noting that nationals currently feature among the top nationalities in such applications.

She regretted that many of these cases were linked to misinformation and exploitation by unauthorised intermediaries rather than genuine eligibility.

The High Commissioner stressed that genuine applicants should rely only on official and legal online systems for visa and asylum-related processes, rather than trusting agents who operate outside the law.

She warned that such fraudulent practices not only result in financial loss but can also seriously damage applicants' chances of future legal travel.