The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Wednesday launched an inquiry after Australian journalist Dennis Freedman accused that an immigration official at the Allama Iqbal International Airport demanded money from him for facilitation.
Freedman who came here in connection with the Pakistan Super League had uploaded a video on the social media from Australia, saying a ‘plainclothes officer’ at Lahore airport facilitated his immigration process but asked for money in return.Titled “My story of corruption in Lahore”, the Aussie writer who described it as a ‘bad side of Pakistan’ said he did not want to shame or get this guy in any trouble.
AS sources reported, the CAA had identified the ‘plainclothes officer’ through a CCTV. “It happened to be a waiter of the lounge of club/business class passenger who took him there after getting him facilitated at the immigration. The waiter told the probing team that he served snacks in the lounge and the Aussie journalist gave him Rs350 as tip. He denied that he sought bribe,” he said. The CAA has cancelled his airport card and is further investigating. Prime Minister Imran Khan has reportedly taken notice of it and directed the authorities concerned to look into the matter.