The Lahore High Court (LHC) has issued important guidelines for the Federal Investigation Agency regarding the offloading of passengers from international flights.
In a detailed written judgment, the LHC ruled that citizens cannot be stopped from travelling abroad based on vague suspicions or weak assumptions. The court emphasized that immigration powers must be used fairly and within legal limits.
The case involved a citizen named Muhammad Abbas. He was stopped from boarding a flight to Nigeria despite holding valid travel documents. According to the petition, he had already completed immigration clearance and received his boarding pass before being offloaded.
The passenger informed the court that FIA officials stopped him because they believed he might not return from Dubai. However, the court found no legal basis for the action.
The LHC observed that the citizen was not listed on the Exit Control List. He was also not wanted in any criminal case, inquiry, or blacklist. The court stated that the offloading caused financial loss, mental stress, and damage to his reputation.
Justice Raheel Kamran issued the nine-page judgment on the petition. The court declared that travelling abroad is a constitutional and fundamental right of every citizen.
The LHC acknowledged that the FIA has authority over immigration matters. However, the court said these powers are not unlimited and must be exercised transparently and lawfully.
The judgment stressed that recording reasons for offloading is a legal requirement. The court noted that the traveler’s explanation about visiting his brother in Nigeria was reasonable. It also stated that the FIA failed to provide proper justification for rejecting his explanation.
The court further ruled that stopping a passenger with a valid visa, ticket, and travel documents is illegal without a clear legal reason.
The LHC also introduced new guidelines for future cases. FIA officers must now record detailed reasons whenever a passenger is offloaded. Questions asked during interviews and the passenger’s responses must also be documented.
According to the judgment, officials should preserve interviews electronically whenever possible. The affected passenger must also receive a copy of the offloading order or related document.
The court added that the citizen has the right to seek damages through the appropriate legal forum.
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Legal experts believe the decision could significantly affect future immigration procedures at airports. The ruling may also improve transparency in cases where passengers are stopped from travelling without clear legal grounds.
