Woes of Pakistani expats
MY son, holding a valid work visa for Malaysia, was detained at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, by immigration people who openly demanded money with threats that they would get him offloaded from his flight if he did not met their demand.
What choice do you have but to either oblige or call on telephone some acquaintances to get facilitated. Pakistani passport-holders are being discriminated within Pakistan because the immigration dares not harass dual nationality-holders for fear that they may complain to their newly-adopted nation’s embassies.
As for unfortunate Pakistani nationals, there is no redressal for their grievances. Our government never tires of beating the drum of loyal expatriate Pakistanis, mostly holding single Pakistani passport, repatriating billions of dollars annually to Pakistan.
But other than mere rhetoric, there is nothing concrete on the ground to display any appreciation.
If you complain to the airline, they state that this is beyond its jurisdiction and, in any case, these immigration postings at airports are achieved by paying hefty amounts to superiors and, therefore, this practice is here to stay.
MIR TASSADAQ
Lahore
If you ever try to get police clearance certificate from Pakistan you will see extreme bribe and corruption.
We all go through this humiliation yet we all continue to give votes to same people. Lets please give even more votes to PPP, PML, MQM ……. And then blame whole World for our texture and sufferings
Not true at all. I had no such experiences in Karachi or Lahore. Dawn should refrain from posting such propoganda to malign the name of Pakistan.
pakistan and corruption go along together and this has tarnish its image abroad – we feel ashmed to call ourself pakistanis and get a bad impression.
The whole world is watching
Very unfortunate. I too was meted with the same treatment. Unless all don’t stand up to these thugs at the airport nothing will happen.
This is not just a government job with immigration, it is a license to steal.
Mir Sahib I sympathise with you. This is routine business in Pakistan. I hope the Chief Justice takes sou moto action on this complaint.
We keep voting for wrong people and then leave it to Chief Justice to take suo moto what a joke
this the plus point of democracy
It is the Pakistani version of Homeland Security.
Wrong. This has nothing to do with democracy.
This govt is the most corrupt in the history of this nation, May Allah swt give us a clean govt in the coming elections.
Do you mean to say it was good while other governments were ruling?
If papers are ok, they don’t stop. I have flown from all three major airports on international travel without difficulty. There must be some reason.