34 Indian transit passengers taken to Lahore hotel by PIA crew: FIA
According to initial reports, the Indian passengers from New Delhi were flying to Saudi Arabia with a stopover in Pakistan.
The PIA crew took the passengers to the hotel, bypassing FIA check points inside the airport. The passengers reportedly spent a night at the hotel.
The FIA has compiled a report on this issue and will submit it to the concerned authorities.
As per the law, transit passengers should remain within a designated area usually inside the airport.
COMMENTS (47)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
1731570357-0/elon-musk-(1)1731570357-0-405x300.webp "article")
-(1)1717678110-0/Kendrick-(1)-(1)1717678110-0-165x106.webp "article")
1732428532-0/BeFunk_§_]__-(43)1732428532-0.jpg "train operations halted between lahore rawalpindi peshawar amid pti protest")
@Ch. Allah Daad: Thanks for the fair comment. Recently I had such experience with air india. They are rude, not helping. Only when you make a scene they do something. Allowing non visa holders to roam city is dangerous. It implies many things sinister.
@Gp65: i cannot agree more, it was perhaps easier to send them 30km east and ask them to walk home
@ LS: "In a civilized population that would be called discrimination based on religion, but I think that it’s ok for people with lower consciousness prevelant in most of the people world over because that is what they are capable of… Not your fault."
When you make a pathetic statement like that Mr. L.S, you must also take into consideration that idle worshipers like you are the ones who make highly inflamable remarks against my religion, my country and my people because this is what you idle worshipers are capable of i.e. making lunatic statements. Correct yourself and respect other people and their religions before others treat you and your country with respect.
@Asif Khan: what nonsense Asif Khan. Where do you get this from? the world has moved on from this. Race, nationality, religion are not reasons for discrimination in any form. Move into the real world.
@Asif Khan: In a civilized population that would be called discrimination based on religion, but I think that it's ok for people with lower consciousness prevelant in most of the people world over because that is what they are capable of... Not your fault.
@Ahmad: I can not understand your logic how you can say this when you never gone through any such incedant every year numerous people visit India especially Panjab and we welcome them with open heart because our forefathers have been living in these villages and were having very cordial relations ask any Pakistani who visited Panjab and he will tell you he truth.
As a Pakistani citizen, I do not mind Indian muslims coming to Pakistan without visas, as for as hindus from India, yes they must be scrutinized for every thing. For Sikhs, Pakistan must give them free passage as per my Sikh friends, Pakistan remains to them a "Holy Land" as Saudi Arabia remains to us Muslims.
@Genius: @romm: @Ch. Allah Daad: @satyan: @Dr Priyanka: @Sam:
This is not about hospitality. The hotel belnged to the spouse of a PIA staff and these 34 passenger's passports were taken away and they were forced to go to this hitel where they were treated poorly.
It was just a money making racket for that staff.
http://nation.com.pk/lahore/31-Oct-2014/pia-staff-illegally-shifts-indian-passengers-to-hotel
@wiserneighbour: do you thing Air India employees will take Pakistani Passenger to a Hotel in New Delhi with out immigration's permission or visa.
@Irshad patel: Who is we? The Americans, the British or the Pakistanis?
I think there is an important piece of information missing here. Transit passengers from India and eight other countries cannot step outside transit lounges of Pakistani airports. This is a rule imposed by Pakistani Armed forces.
As a result, in the event of unforeseen long delays, transit passengers from India cannot be given a transit visa without security clearance.
Probably, PIA crew, out of greed to get their commission, provided hotel accommodation to Indian transit passengers without obtaining security clearance.
I'm torn on this.On the one hand PIA failed to follow their SOPs,on the other by showing hospitality to the indians we have slightly improved our image.Dont underestimate the power of 'soft power'
if flight gets delayed for considerable time say 8 hours for any reason either the whether condition or technical fault in the plane during stopover ( or even if boarding pass is issued )p Airline is obliged to provide accommodation and it is responsibility / duty and nothing sort of hospitality.
Its job of PIA to offer facilities to its passengers if they are taking flights from India to Saudi arabia via Pakistan.
PIA must have followed the due process else the airport authorities couldnt have allowed so many passengers who are Indians to exit the airport given the brotherly feeling the two countries have for eachother.. But i commend PIA and hope Air India and other international airlines can learn a thing or two from it about hospitality for transit passengers.
Well said but you missed something really important... It is a norm to arrange a hotel if the stay is for longer period of time but do it the right way by following the proper procedure and protocol.. That's the real problem... @wiserneighbour:
There are many other transit passengers comfortably housed and hosted by Pakistan,why not get their passage investigated also?In fact we have been asking for them to sent back here so that we can host them real and proper.
This is a very normal practice in air travel. If layover time is extended due to airlines fault or weather related matter, then airlines have to provide hotel. This news became important because PIA provided hotel which is very astonishing. PIA staff always hide when passengers need them. They are world's rudest people who have no regard for passengers. They have many hotel rooms booked for this purpose where their friends and relatives stay. FIA is bringing this matter because those were Indian passengers. From other nationalities they take bribe and let them roam in city.
@Rizkhan: They should take to task the security apparatus at the airport including FIA and ASF. both were asleep at the wheel.
I was born in England, raised in Pakistan and now live in USA. Last time I visited India was in 1979, when British Citizen did not need a visa. In 2008 when I applied for Visa on my US passport I was asked to get in written that I have cancelled my Pakistani citizenship.
So that's how we get treated.
@ LS please don't just post anything without research or knowing the facts. There are 2 weekly flights from New Delhi to Lahore (Sunday's and Wednesday's) from PIA. Please check PIA website as I am traveling on it next week. I don't not expect any hospitality or good manner from the Indians. They are shrewd people. They will never give the "hospitality" which our PIA gave them. Again I say the PIA staff responsible should be fired and charged with treason.
Another Fake News. There are NO flights from New Delhi To Pakistan by any Airline Period. If anyone needs to go to Pakistan they need a stop-over in another country either in Middle east or ASEAN countries. This news is only present in Pak news websites and no where else.
@Reddy: Here we are talking about the procedures which were not followed and hospitality went "beyond" specified norms. You guys have problem with everything.
Indians travelling on PIA, smells fishy.
Those people praising PIA for excellent hospitality must 1st read complete report in "The Nation Pakistan" before praising the PIA hospitality of how horribly PIA has treated Indian passengers in the lahore hotel,Shame on PIA and pakistani hospatlity.
http://nation.com.pk/lahore/31-Oct-2014/pia-staff-illegally-shifts-indian-passengers-to-hotel
My mistake its not dawn but the nation pakistan news site.
Some of the comments are are just so childish. I mean, they are investigating it because transit passengers aren't supposed to leave airport premises. Thats it ! what exactly are extremist liberals so insecure about the indians here ?
On such occasions the Airlines also arranges temporary transit visa (flight specific) before taking out of the immigeration area.I have experienced this several times at various Airports
I am sure et was some mistake . They r bound to reach home safely .I will consider them lucky . Wish it happens to me one day . How else will people like me get to see ' the other side '?
Strange. While it may be a standard aviation practice to provide hotel accommodation when layovers are long, the immigration authorities are normally in the loop. Even locals cannot bypass immigration.
I thought there are no PIA between India and Pakistan
then build hotels next to airport,bring those hotels under airport authority .....pakistanis make tall claims about their hospitality and welcome parties ...first know the law.
Well Done PIA. They were guests though from an Enemy Country.
I have been to and via india, this kind of "hospitality" can never ever be expected from the Indian side. The mean look on their face tells you that they r looking for reason to not let you in even with all valid documents!! We are being too lenient - The concerned staff should not only be fired but also charged for treason
Amen to Excellent hospitality. PIA can’t be that bad. Did the visitors breach any security or took any undue advantage of PIA's hospitality. Did PIA have any other choice than what they did? Is commonsense very common?
The Law is misinterpreted all the transiting Passengers with more than 8 Hours at a city have to be accommodated at a hotel.
Excellent hospitality. PIA can't be that bad.
so what?Did they plant any bombs?or did they shoot innocents?If there is a long gap between flights,it is a norm to arrange hotel accommodation by the respective airline.
There is a procedure for this. I myself once spent a night in a Paris Hotel without visa due to weather issues. However all should be as per law and also procedures for this should be defined.
Something very serious. Concerned authorities must reprimand PIA crew and take stern measures.
I hope they did some sight-seeing in Lahore and enjoyed their stay.