Chinese Passenger Accuses Customs Officer of Extortion At Islamabad Airport

A Chinese national has alleged that a customs inspector at Islamabad International Airport extorted money, issued threats, and behaved in a grossly unprofessional manner during a routine baggage check, raising concerns about passenger safety and the conduct of airport officials. The passenger, who arrived on Pakistan International Airlines flight PK-855, stated that shortly after clearing immigration, he was approached by a customs inspector identified as Anas. According to the complaint later filed by the traveler, the officer adopted an aggressive and intimidating tone from the outset, insisting that the passenger owed a mandatory tax on the personal goods he was carrying. The traveler claims the inspector demanded Rs. 1 million and repeatedly threatened him with jail if he did not comply immediately. Feeling frightened as a foreign visitor unfamiliar with local procedures, the passenger says he arranged the full amount under what he described as extreme pressure and fear of detention. After making the payment, the complainant requested an official receipt. He alleges that the inspector initially tried to avoid issuing one and responded with further threats when asked. When a receipt was finally provided, the printed amount was Rs. 800,000, significantly lower than the Rs. 1,000,000 he says he had paid. The passenger claims that when he questioned the discrepancy, the inspector became verbally abusive and repeated threats of incarceration, refusing to acknowledge or return the missing Rs. 200,000. The experience, according to the traveler, left him “shaken, distressed, and financially harmed,” and has raised broader concerns about the treatment of international passengers at one of the country’s busiest airports. Sources said that Pakistan Customs has launched an inquiry into the matter, but the accused may be cleared of allegations because of his close ties to high-ranking customs officials.