FIA Chief Reveals 10,000 Pakistanis Sought UK Asylum on Student Visas
Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Dr Usman Anwar disclosed on Tuesday that approximately 10,000 Pakistani citizens traveled to the United Kingdom on student visas and subsequently applied for political asylum. The revelation came during a meeting of the National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Interior, chaired by Raja Khurram Nawaz. The session included a comprehensive briefing on illegal immigration, passport policy, and proposed reforms in criminal laws.
UK Envoy's Concerns
The announcement follows concerns raised by British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott last week regarding the increasing number of Pakistani nationals applying for political asylum in the UK. Marriott noted that Pakistanis now rank among the top nationalities in such applications. She regretted that many cases stemmed from misinformation and exploitation by unauthorized intermediaries rather than genuine eligibility.
FIA Briefing on Illegal Immigration
Addressing the committee, DG FIA Dr Usman Anwar emphasized that individuals leaving the country illegally bring disrepute to Pakistan. He stated that several countries, including those in the European Union, have raised the issue with Islamabad. Anwar revealed that 580 Pakistanis who traveled to Belarus have not returned, while 7,000 Pakistanis who went to Azerbaijan on visit visas also failed to come back. Additionally, 175 arrested Pakistanis have been repatriated from Libya.
New Trafficking Routes
Anwar highlighted the emergence of a new human trafficking route via Malaysia and Uzbekistan. During 2025, authorities offloaded 39,786 individuals attempting to travel abroad without documents, and over 3,000 were stopped based on stop lists and Interpol alerts. He reported a 75% reduction in organized begging and a 31% decline in the use of fake documents.
State Minister's Remarks
State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry informed the committee that illegal immigration from Pakistan has decreased by 47%, a decline confirmed by both Europe and the United States. Chaudhry announced that further facilitations would be introduced soon and a new policy had been prepared regarding lost passports. He noted that repeatedly reported lost passports are treated as suspicious, and each case is investigated. He added that incidents of identity being sold occur worldwide.
Law Minister on Criminal Law Reforms
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar briefed the committee on proposed reforms in criminal laws, suggesting that detailed discussion should occur after the budget. While acknowledging that 80-year-old laws are not necessarily bad and remain effectively implemented in many countries, Tarar emphasized that changes are unavoidable due to modern technology and new requirements. He noted that no large-scale legal amendments have been made since 1971 and 1991, and amendments to 55 laws related to the Code of Criminal Procedure have been proposed. Work on the reforms has been ongoing for three years, with consultations with renowned criminal law experts. Tarar stated that at least four days would be needed for detailed discussion on all amendments. He termed some proposed reforms unnecessary but said the package aims to improve the judicial system. He added that current laws provide facilities for the accused but insufficient protections for the complainant, and comprehensive proposals are being presented as a bill for consideration as legislation.
