KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) offloaded 23 passengers at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on Friday after they were found attempting to travel to Malaysia on visit visas with plans to work illegally. According to an FIA spokesperson, the passengers, travelling on flight D7-109, admitted during questioning that they intended to overstay and take up employment in Malaysia, violating the conditions of their visit visas.
The individuals came from various regions of Pakistan, including Karachi, Lower Dir, Mardan, Swat, Bajaur, Bannu, Gujrat, and Peshawar. The investigation revealed that the passengers were connected through an agent, Muhammad Owais, who stated that the visas had been arranged by another passenger, Waseem Khan, through a separate agent named Stefan. Payments for the visas were reportedly made via bank transfers.
Immigration checks showed that the passengers lacked sufficient funds and could not provide the mandatory bank statements required for Malaysian visit visas. This failure to meet financial requirements is one of the key criteria for offloading passengers intending to misuse visit visas for work purposes.
After being offloaded, the passengers were handed over to the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Karachi for further verification and legal proceedings. The FIA has been actively monitoring and intervening in such cases to prevent organized networks from facilitating illegal travel and human trafficking.
Earlier this week, the FIA informed a parliamentary panel that it has offloaded more than 66,000 passengers this year alone to prevent misuse of travel documents and organized illegal migration. The agency emphasized its commitment to ensuring that visit visas are used solely for legitimate travel purposes and not exploited for illegal employment abroad.
The issue of illegal overseas work has been under scrutiny, especially after the Lahore High Court ruled earlier this year that immigration authorities cannot restrain passengers without providing written justification. The judgment came following numerous incidents of offloading based solely on verbal orders, reinforcing the need for procedural transparency and compliance with legal standards.
The FIA continues to work closely with immigration authorities to identify suspicious travel patterns, verify documentation, and prevent illegal migration. The recent offloading at Karachi airport highlights the ongoing efforts to curb human trafficking and protect individuals from exploitation while maintaining compliance with national and international travel regulations.
With rising instances of attempted illegal overseas employment, the FIA urges travelers to comply with visa rules and warns against engaging with agents or networks promising unauthorized work abroad. These efforts aim to safeguard both the security of Pakistan and the rights of citizens seeking legitimate travel opportunities.
