Officials 'extorting money' from passengers at airport.

Byline: Tufail Ahmad

KARACHI -- Intelligence agencies have begun close and strict monitoring of the health officials deployed at Jinnah International Airport and passengers arriving in the city from abroad, after reports surfaced of the former allowing the latter to leave the airport premises without being screened for coronavirus.

Reportedly, health officials deployed at the airport intimidated the passengers, threatening them with keeping them in quarantine, and forcing them into paying money to be able to leave the airport. After paying the officials, the passengers were allowed to leave the airport without being screened for coronavirus, it was alleged.

Health officials are also accused of taking bribes from quarantined persons in exchange for permitting them to leave the...