Hopes thwarted: Five trying to fly on fake papers nabbed by FIA

Immigration wing hands over arrested passengers to anti-human trafficking authorities.

LAHORE: Five passengers who had attempted to go to different world destinations on forged travelling papers got caught by immigration wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at Lahore airport, The Express Tribune learnt.

FIA immigration staff deployed at Allama Iqbal International Airport, in separate incidents, apprehended these passengers and handed them over to FIA Anti Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC).

According to FIA sources, Amir Mukhtar reported at the immigration counter with a ticket to fly to Sharjah on board flight PA 412. As his passport was being checked, his Protector of Emigrants stamp was found washed, and a sticker removed. On inquiry, the passenger disclosed that he had obtained the passport from Nadeem, an agent in Islamabad against Rs0.35 million.

Another passenger, Ali Ahmad, was offloaded from the flight QR 621 leaving for Malaysia with a fake visa sticker on a forged passport. He disclosed that he got this visa from an agent Yaqoob of Lahore against Rs0.3 million, FIA sources said.

Muhammad Asghar was offloaded from flight EY 242 as he tried to leave for Greece on tampered travelling documents.

Muhammad Akram attempted to go to South Africa on board EY 242 on fake visa sticker but was offloaded.

Zaheer Ahmed was also caught trying to go to South Africa on fake visa via flight EK 623.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2013.