ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has barred immigration officers from offloading passengers solely on verbal instructions, making written orders and digital records mandatory under a new standing order that takes immediate effect across Pakistan.
Standing Order No. 07/2026, issued by FIA Immigration, applies to all international airports, seaports and dry ports in the country. The 12-page document replaces instructions issued in 2005 and overrides earlier guidance on immigration officers’ duties wherever it conflicts with the new rules.
Under the new procedures, immigration officers must record their decisions and the reasons behind them. All relevant actions must be entered into the Integrated Border Management System (IBMS), while passenger screening must follow a risk-based approach.
The order also revises the duties of immigration staff and makes compliance mandatory. By requiring officers to maintain a formal record of their actions, the FIA aims to prevent passengers from being offloaded on verbal directions alone and make it easier to hold officials responsible for their decisions.
The change comes as courts have raised concerns about the legal basis for stopping passengers from travelling abroad, particularly when they hold valid travel documents.
In a recent judgment, the Peshawar High Court ruled that the FIA had no lawful authority to interfere with the international travel of a Pakistani citizen holding valid travel documents. The case involved a student who was offloaded from a flight to Türkiye at Peshawar’s Bacha Khan International Airport on August 10, 2026.
The student had secured admission to a university in Türkiye and obtained a study visa. The court held that immigration authorities could examine travel documents but could not restrict a passenger’s travel on the basis of subjective assessments or general concerns without a lawful justification. It also observed that an internal standard operating procedure could not grant the agency powers that were not provided under the law.
The court further noted that officers responsible for unlawful restrictions could face legal consequences, including claims for compensation. It directed that copies of the judgment be sent to the federal interior secretary and FIA director general.
The Lahore High Court has also taken up the issue. In a judgment issued on February 28, it directed immigration authorities to record specific written reasons for offloading passengers and provide them with copies. The court stressed that action against unlawful emigration must remain within the limits of the law and comply with due process.
Passenger offloading has also drawn attention in parliament. In December 2025, the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development called for clear procedures and a complaint mechanism for travellers who believe they have been stopped from travelling without proper grounds.
The committee was informed that the FIA had reported 66,154 offloading cases in 2025, including technical cases, compared with 35,000 in the previous year. It called for information about complaint procedures to be displayed at airport immigration counters so passengers would know how to challenge such decisions.
In June 2026, the FIA introduced Standing Order No. 02/2026 to give offloaded passengers a formal way to seek a review of their cases. The mechanism allows them to approach immigration in-charges and zonal grievance committees.
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The FIA has maintained that passenger screening is necessary to identify suspected human smuggling, trafficking, fraudulent documents and other immigration risks. The latest order sets out procedures for officers to follow while making such decisions, with the stated aim of ensuring that screening is properly documented and that officials are held accountable.
The new rules apply to designated immigration points across Pakistan and will be reviewed periodically.
