VERY unreassuring about the way the FIA has handled this matter. Apparently without any formal announcement or warning, its officials recently began disembarking or denying boarding to passengers traveling abroad.
When affected citizens began to riot on social media, the agency, instead of clarifying its position or explaining the reason behind its actions, which were allegedly causing hundreds of thousands of losses to affected travelers, began a broad crackdown on social media accounts through the National Cybercrime Investigation Agency, accusing them of “systematic and baseless propaganda” that aimed to spread “provincial hatred.”
It seemed like a bit of an exaggerated reaction. If the FIA considered its campaign to prevent suspicious people from traveling abroad justified, then it was enough to have issued an explanatory statement to dismiss the “propaganda”. Most of the reasons finally given seemed understandable, if not reasonable. These could have been shared earlier so that travelers were better prepared as well.
The FIA has said that passengers were only denied boarding if they had incomplete or fraudulent travel documents, had provided “suspicious or unclear information” or were suspected of “being under the influence of human traffickers or illegal agents”. The first reason seems quite reasonable insofar as a traveler’s basic documents, such as visas and passports, must always be in order.
However, the other reasons given are less so, especially since they do not refer to any strict rules or laws and seem open to interpretation. What is “suspicious” or “unclear” information? What does it mean to “be under the influence of human traffickers”?
Unless some rules are established and published, the agency would do well to proceed with caution. You should not harass travelers based on mere suspicions. Not all individuals will meet the standards of an “ideal traveler.” Those who do not should not be treated as criminals.
Published in Dawn, November 29, 2025
