RAWALPINDI, Dec 11: Pakistani immigration authorities deported a British woman, who arrived here without a visa, but had to shift her to the hospital when she seemingly pretended falling sick while boarding a London-bound plane, Dawn has learnt.

Kathleen Farouq, who possesses a British passport (GB-107540154), arrived at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport on a PIA flight (PK-702) from Manchester on Tuesday.

As she reached the immigration desk, she was refused entry because she had an invalid visa.

Later, the authorities concerned in Islamabad were contacted by her would-be husband, who had been waiting for her at the airport, but she was not cleared by the immigration staff.

She was made to board a PIA flight (PK-785) for deportation to London. As she was boarding the flight, she started complaining of sickness and demanded a medical check-up.

On her request, Dr Afreen Sattar was sent to the plane who declared her unfit for travel, and finally she was off-loaded and shifted to a hospital in Islamabad.

When Assistant Director Immigration Omer Hayat was contacted, he confirmed that the British woman did not have a visa, therefore she was not allowed entry and subsequently deported.

Mr Hayat said after she pretended falling sick, she was off-loaded and handed over to the PIA authorities “till she recovers”.