FIA, ASF row deepens over airport screening

RAWALPINDI: Tensions have reportedly emerged between officials of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration and the Airport Security Force (ASF) at New Islamabad International Airport following a series of incidents related to security and access control.

According to sources, the latest disagreement occurred when ASF personnel stopped a senior FIA Immigration officer at the final security screening point in the airport’s departure lounge.

When the officer questioned the reason for being denied passage, ASF officials reportedly stated they were acting under instructions. The officer subsequently used an alternative route to proceed.

Following the incident, the officer is said to have instructed immigration staff that ASF personnel and any other unauthorised individuals would no longer be permitted to pass through immigration counters without proper authorisation.

Sources linked the dispute to an earlier incident involving a passenger, identified as Sohail, who was travelling to Saudi Arabia. The passenger was stopped by FIA Immigration based on his travel history.

During a search of his luggage, officials allegedly recovered a large quantity of cigarettes and tobacco products, despite the passenger having already cleared security checks conducted by the ASF, Customs and the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), as well as boarding formalities.

The FIA Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad subsequently registered a first information report (FIR) against the passenger and individuals suspected of facilitating him.

According to sources, investigators are also examining the role of ASF, Customs and ANF personnel who were on duty when the passenger passed through the airport's security and screening process.

The incident has reportedly strained relations between FIA Immigration and ASF personnel, with disagreements arising over access to restricted areas. Sources claimed that junior ASF staff were inconsistently allowed through screening points, while the senior immigration officer later tightened access controls by restricting ASF personnel from entering immigration counters without authorisation.