Lahore High Court Issues Fresh Guidelines Over Offloading Citizens
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday issued comprehensive guidelines limiting the powers of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) regarding the offloading of passengers traveling abroad, ruling that citizens with valid travel documents cannot be stopped without lawful justification.
In its judgment, the court directed immigration authorities to record clear, detailed, and meaningful reasons before offloading any passenger. It further ordered that all questions asked during the immigration process, along with passengers’ responses, must be properly documented to ensure transparency and accountability.
The court emphasized that the right to travel abroad is a fundamental constitutional right, and that the FIA’s authority is not absolute. It also instructed officials to electronically preserve interviews or conversations wherever possible and provide a written copy of the offloading order or proforma to the affected individual.
The ruling came in response to a petition filed by citizen Muhammad Abbas, who challenged the FIA’s decision to prevent him from traveling to Nigeria despite possessing valid travel documents, including a visa and air ticket. In a nine-page judgment, Justice Raheel Kamran declared the FIA’s action illegal, noting that the petitioner had already cleared immigration and received a boarding card before being stopped.
The FIA had argued that the passenger was offloaded due to concerns he might not return from Dubai. However, the court observed that he was not involved in any criminal case, inquiry, blacklist, or the Exit Control List, and that his explanation for traveling was reasonable. The judgment stated that the incident caused financial loss, mental distress, and reputational harm to the petitioner, adding that he may seek compensation through appropriate legal channels.
The decision comes amid growing complaints from travelers who claim they were prevented from flying despite having valid visas for destinations such as Greece, Italy, Poland, and Baku. Many passengers have reported being denied travel clearance without written orders, often citing verbal instructions from officials.
Authorities, however, have defended the policy. Talal Chaudhry stated that additional screening and profiling are sometimes necessary to curb illegal migration and misuse of travel channels. He noted that enhanced monitoring has reportedly reduced illegal migration attempts by 47 percent, with 2,222 individuals offloaded under the E-Exit system.
According to FIA data, a total of 66,154 passengers were offloaded in 2025, highlighting the scale of the issue. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had also taken notice of the situation and ordered the تشکیل of a committee to investigate complaints.
The LHC ruling reinforces the need for transparency, fairness, and legal compliance in immigration procedures, ensuring that citizens’ rights are protected while maintaining necessary security measures.