LHC rules FIA cannot stop travel on vague suspicions
• Observes right to travel abroad protected under Constitution • Justice Kamran notes immigration powers must be exercised fairly and transparently LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has declared unlawful the off-loading of a passenger from a Nigeria-bound flight at Sialkot International Airport, ruling that immigration authorities cannot curtail a citizen’s right to travel abroad on the basis of vague suspicions or unsubstantiated reasons. Justice Raheel Kamran passed the judgement on a petition filed by Muhammad Abbas, who challenged his off-loading by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Jan 31, 2026, despite possessing a valid passport, a Nigerian visit visa, a return ticket and other travel documents. According to the petition, Mr Abbas had completed airline and immigration formalities and his passport had been stamped for exit, but he was later stopped by the FIA shift in-charge at the airport on the apprehension that he might abscond in Dubai and not return to Pakistan. The petitioner, through his counsel, argued that there was no criminal case, inquiry, blacklisting order, Exit Control List (ECL) restriction or Passport Control List (PCL) entry against him. He maintained that he intended to visit his brother-in-law residing in Nigeria and that the FIA’s action caused him financial loss, humiliation and mental agony. The federal government defended the action, contending that the petitioner neither possessed sufficient funds nor satisfactorily explained the purpose of his visit. An assistant attorney general argued that immigration authorities were empowered to scrutinise passengers to prevent illegal migration and visa abuse. However, Justice Kamran held that although immigration officials have the authority to off-load passengers in appropriate cases, such powers must be exercised fairly, transparently and on the basis of objective material. The judge observed that the reasons recorded in the off-loading proforma were vague and co...
Original source: Dawn Pakistan