Immigration issues: 38 passengers off-loaded from flight

Counter-verification process proved that passengers’ visas and other documents were valid.

LAHORE: Immigration staff deployed at Allama Iqbal International Airport on Monday off-loaded 38 passengers from a Malaysia-bound flight. Federal Investigation Agency Additional Director Basharat Mehmood Shehzad arrived at the airport and barred the passengers from boarding the plane for a counter-verification process. Out of the 38 passengers, 31 had completed the immigration process and been issued boarding passes. The other seven were in line. The counter-verification process proved that the passengers’ visas and other documents were valid.  A senior FIA functionary said immigration officials then requested the airline to carry the passengers at the next available flight without cancelling their tickets or imposing a penalty.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 7^th, 2014.