Islamabad, March 31 – Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) removed two passengers from a plane at the Multan International Airport after they were allegedly found attempting to use Umrah visas to enter Europe, local media reported.
A spokesperson for the FIA said that immigration staff took action at Multan airport during routine screening of outbound passengers. Two Pakistani nationals, Sikander Alam and Noor Islam, were traveling to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. However, initial investigations raised suspicions, prompting officials to refer them to secondary screening for detailed profiling, according to Pakistan's leading daily, Dawn.
During further investigation, officials found Moroccan visas affixed to the passports of Alam and Islam. After questioning, Sikander Alam and Noor Islam stated that their actual destination was Spain, not Saudi Arabia.
FIA officials said that this case aligns with recent alerts issued by the FIA headquarters about the rising cases in which people try to use Umrah visas as a cover to enter Europe illegally through Morocco.
After the findings, both passengers were removed from the plane and taken to the FIA Composite Circle in Multan for further investigation.
In January, a report detailed an incident involving two Pakistani individuals attempting to travel to France on forged credentials. Uncovered by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at Islamabad International Airport, it exposed a nexus between immigration fraud, abuse of official authority in Pakistan, and the continuous challenge of illegal migration.
"While it initially involved two individuals attempting to travel to France on forged credentials, the implications extend well beyond a routine interception at an airport. The case points to deeper institutional vulnerabilities and raises serious questions about governance, accountability, and the misuse of public office within a key regulatory authority," an editorial in Pakistan-based Business Recorder detailed.
The case involved alleged involvement of a senior tax official at the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), who is accused of facilitating fraudulent French visit visas by exploiting the authority of his position, and the credibility of a crucial government department. By portraying themselves as FBR employees and claiming to be part of an official delegation, the suspects tried to hide their plans under bureaucratic legitimacy.
The fabricated email exchange they presented at the airport, apparently between a Gmail account and an official-looking FBR email address, with the subject referring to meetings and a visit to the European Parliament – demonstrating an attempt to avoid investigation by Pakistani authorities and foreign embassies, the editorial in the Business Recorder mentioned.
When the individuals were asked for verification, they did not provide any formal travel authorization, evidence of employment, or official correspondence from the FBR. Further analysis of their travel itinerary, including a same-day Paris to Barcelona trip, contradicted their stated purpose of the visit and indicated their intention to stay in Europe and seek asylum.