Pakistan International Airlines Hostess Hina Sani was carrying Canadian port stamps instead of illegal passports as originally claimed.
PIA hostess Hina Sani had recently been arrested in Toronto after landing on flight PK-789. Original reports said she was carrying multiple passports belonging to individuals not related to her. Later reports had also added a drug possession charge.
However, the Canadian news outlet National Post reported on Wednesday that Sani was carrying two counterfeit port stamps belonging to the Canada Border Service Agency.
Border officials use port stamps, made of rubber, to mark the date and location of an entry or exit from that country.
“On March 28, 2024, a flight attendant for Pakistan International Airlines arriving at Pearson International Airport was sent to Secondary for examination and within one of their suitcases the examining border services officer located two counterfeit CBSA port stamps,” a spokesperson said.
“To be clear, [the flight attendant] … had two physical CBSA counterfeit port stamps, not stamp impressions,” the spokesperson added.
Carrying port stamps, instead of passports, is a significantly worse offence and has led to Sani being charged with one count of smuggling, one count of forgery instruments and one count of counterfeiting.
Pakistan’s national flag carrier is facing a host of financial difficulties and is facing the prospect of being privatised this year.
Apart from financial issues, the airline has also seen a trend of cabin crew members ‘slipping away’ particularly in Canada. Multiple such incidents have already been reported this year.
