LAHORE: Five Pakistani nationals were deported from Sharjah for attempting to travel to the United Kingdom on forged visas, officials confirmed.
According to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) spokesperson, the deportees were taken into custody immediately upon arrival at Lahore Airport.
The individuals had earlier travelled to Malaysia this year on visit visas and allegedly attempted to reach the UK using fake documents.
The spokesperson added that the suspects obtained counterfeit visas with the help of agents. Upon deportation, they were handed over to the FIA’s Anti-Human Smuggling Circle in Lahore, where investigation and questioning are currently underway.
Earlier, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration denied reports of a travel ban at Karachi airport, saying that passengers from all provinces were travelling freely without any restrictions.
An FIA spokesperson in Karachi dismissed the rumors, clarifying that “no such ban is in place.” The official also rejected claims of discrimination against passengers from Punjab or other provinces.
Explaining the situation, the spokesperson said that immigration checks had only been made more effective in specific cases to protect citizens from human trafficking networks, commonly known as the “agent mafia.” These agents often mislead people into travelling abroad and then put them on unsafe journeys by sea.
According to FIA officials, extra verification is carried out mainly for first-time travelers, especially those who do not belong to Sindh, to ensure their documents are genuine. “Passengers who provide proper documents and clear explanations face no trouble,” the spokesperson assured.
