BY: Dr Mirza MB Qamar :
Sialkot— Immigration authorities at Sialkot International Airport offloaded three passengers travelling on Umrah visas after profiling raised suspicions that they intended to use Saudi Arabia as a transit point for illegal migration to Greece via Libya.
The passengers were identified as Ateeq Ur Rehman, son of Shahid Mehmood; Muneeb Ahmad, son of Muhammad Ashfaq; and Zubair Ahmad, son of Adil Husain, all residents of Sialkot. They were scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on flight PF-720.
According to immigration officials, the passengers were referred to the Shift Incharge for detailed profiling after they failed to satisfactorily explain the purpose of their visit. During questioning, they allegedly admitted that they had contacted an agent, identified as Seth Abid of Mandi Bahauddin, who is reportedly based in Greece, along with a sub-agent, Abu Bakar Goraya, to facilitate their illegal journey to Greece through Libya in exchange for Rs. 5.5 million.
Officials further stated that WhatsApp conversations recovered during the inquiry supported the claim that the passengers intended to travel onward to Greece through Libya after entering Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas.
Following the investigation, the three passengers were offloaded from the flight and referred to the CC Sialkot for further legal action. Their accompanying family members, including their mothers and, in one case, a grandmother, voluntarily cancelled their travel plans after the passengers were intercepted.
