FIA, ASF row deepens over airport screening

RAWALPINDI:

Tension reportedly surfaced between personnel of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration and the Airport Security Force (ASF) at New Islamabad International Airport.

According to sources, the situation turned tense when ASF personnel stopped a senior FIA Immigration officer from passing through the final screening point in the departure lounge.

When the officer asked why she had been stopped, ASF personnel reportedly replied that they were acting on instructions. The officer then returned and used another route.

Subsequently, she reportedly directed immigration staff that, in future, ASF personnel or any other unauthorised individuals would not be allowed to pass through immigration counters.

Sources said the dispute follows an incident in which FIA Immigration stopped a passenger named Sohail travelling to Saudi Arabia based on his travel history. A search of his luggage allegedly led to the recovery of a large quantity of cigarettes and tobacco-related items, despite the passenger having already cleared ASF, Customs and Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) screening and boarding procedures.

An FIR was subsequently registered by the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle, Islamabad, against the passenger and his alleged facilitators.

Sources said the anti-corruption investigation is also examining the role of ASF, Customs and ANF personnel who were on duty at the time.

Since then, relations between FIA Immigration and ASF staff have reportedly remained strained.

Junior staff members were at times allowed to pass through the screening point and at other times stopped.

Sources further claimed that the senior immigration officer enforced access controls at immigration counters, barring ASF personnel.