RAWALPINDI: A scuffle broke out between an Italian national of Afghan origin and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)`s immigration staff at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport on Tuesday.

The incident occurred when the immigration staff denied country entry to the Italian national who was later identified as Mohammad Imran.

Mr Imran came to Islamabad from Italy via Qatar through a Qatar Airways flight.

Though he was holding a valid Pakistani visa, it was decaying and unreadable that was why he was denied entry, the immigration authorities claimed.

The entry refusal angered the passenger, who picked up a hammer lying in the immigration hall as some renovation work was in progress there, and tried to hit the officials, they said.

However, the FIA staff overpowered the passenger.

Later, the immigration officers asked the Qatar Airways staff to take the passenger back as he could not be granted entry in Pakistan.

But the Qatar Airways refused to accept the passenger, saying they could not take such a troublemaker back without a `security escort`.

Director Immigration Islamabad zone Inam Ghani told Dawn that the passenger was deneid entry as his travel documents were soiled.

He claimed that one of the passengers was injured during the scuffle.

Mr Ghani said the passenger was under the custody of the immigration authorities and would be deported to Italy on Wednesday.

The director disputed the allegation of the passenger`s family that he was beaten up by the immigration staff.

The family members, waiting for him outside the airport, were even not allowed to see him despite repeated attempts, he added.