50,000 deportees recommended for passport blacklist, NA told

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Interior presented a report to the National Assembly on Thursday stating that approximately 50,000 deportees were recommended by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Balochistan for placement on the Passport Control List (PCL) due to their illegal entry into Iran and subsequent attempts to enter Europe.

The report was submitted in a written reply to PPP legislator Sharmila Faruqui’s question regarding whether the FIA had indeed blacklisted over 50,000 passports to curb illegal migration to Europe. The query also sought details about the specific criteria, legal framework, and guidelines governing these blacklisting decisions, along with the factors considered when determining which individuals’ passports should be blacklisted.

The Interior Ministry’s report stated that these measures were taken in response to multiple incidents of boat capsizing, loss of life, and international embarrassment for the Pakistani government. To curb illegal migration and prevent further such incidents, the DG Immigration and Passport Islamabad placed these individuals’ names on the PCL under the Passport Rules 2021.

The recommendations were made based on specific guidelines under Passport Rules 2021, including cases of illegal entry and criminal charges, counterfeit, forged or altered passports, impersonation, and human trafficking. The ministry clarified that individuals who believe they have been wrongfully blacklisted can appeal through the established process under the Passport Rules.