Passengers contest airline offloading

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad High Court has sought a response from the director general immigration on a petition filed against the offloading of three passengers from a flight, including a married couple who were allegedly prevented from travelling for Umrah.

Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir heard the case, which was brought by Asad Aslam, Imran and Ishrat Imran. The petition challenges the decision to stop them from boarding their flight at the airport on June 18.

The petitioners moved the court through their lawyer, Advocate Tariq Muhammad Khan Marwat. According to the petition, the three passengers were taken off the flight despite plans to travel for Umrah.

Their counsel argued before the court that the passengers had been stopped on the grounds that they did not have confirmed hotel bookings. After taking up the matter, the high court issued notices and called for a reply from the director general immigration.