LHC reminds authorities to provide written reasons to passengers offloaded or barred from travel

The Lahore high Court on Thursday have sent a written letter to FIA and other concerned authorities that any passenger who will be stopped from travelling must be provided with written reasons at the time of offloading.

Lahore High Court’s Justice Ali Zia made the decision after hearing the bench in Multan. The judge was heard a petition filed by Citizen Shaheryar Qandeel against the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other relevant authorities after he was offloaded from a flight despite holding valid travel documents on Wednesday.

Justice Bajwa said, “Let this court take a moment to remind the FIA and all concerned authorities that every exercise of power that infringes upon the fundamental rights of an individual must find its firm and unambiguous foundation in law.”

Justice Bajwa held that the rule of law demanded that no person be deprived of their right to move freely or leave the country except through due process and fair procedure.

“The rule of law demands that no person should be deprived of their right to travel, move freely, or leave the country, particularly when in possession of valid travel documents, except in accordance with law, due process, and fair procedure,” he said.

However, Bajwa also stressed that no records or written reasons were present of the passengers being offloaded.