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| September 19, 2006 | Tuesday | Sha'aban 25, 1427 |
FIA failing in hunt for human traffickers
GUJRAT, Sept 18: The drive against human traffickers is becoming a daunting task for the FIA with the arrival of more deportees from different countries. In its operation called ‘Harpoon’ and ‘Foxhunt’ recently, the Gujranwala circle of FIA identified 850 human traffickers active in the districts of Gunranwala, Gujrat, Mandi Bahauddin and Sialkot.
According to FIA sources, almost 80 per cent of illegal immigrants deported this year to Pakistan belonged to Gujranwala region.
A study conducted by Dawn revealed that the agency has miserably failed in arresting these agents.
Documents related to operation Harpoon revealed that after interrogating 742 illegal immigrants from Oman the agency identified 633 human smugglers.
A thorough study of the papers reveals that 104 people were deported from Oman on Feb 8. After questioning them FIA identified 92 agents but could not make any arrest.
The same country then deported 114 Pakistanis on March 4. The agency this time identified 97 more agents but could nab 10 only.
The next group of 163 deportees was brought on April 19. The FIA could lay hands on 10 human smugglers of 131 identified.
Another group of 191 immigrants was deported on June 7. The agency identified 163 traffickers but managed one arrest.
The last group of 170 deportees arrived on Aug 8, helping FIA identify 150 traffickers who were still at large.
Similarly, Spain and Greece deported 482 Pakistanis belonging to this region in July and August. The FIA identified 220 agents but arrested just 11.
According to operation Foxhunt, there were around 311 target offenders wanted by the agency in December 2005. These smugglers sent people to Greece through Iran and Turkey. Of them, 162 belonged to Gujrat district.
Sources said most of the top human smugglers were hiding in Iran and other countries. Among them is Malik Ehsan of Qila Dedar Singh, Gujranwala, who is wanted in 18 cases. He is reportedly living in Iran.
The next is Asad Arian of Gulliana, Gujrat, who is wanted in nine cases. His hideout is also in Iran.
Others are identified as Dr Sajid (Iran), Agha Inayat (Iran), Muhammad Asif (Iran), Chaudhry Ehsan (Turkey), Nusrat Butt (Turkey), Mahmood Ahmed (Iran), Tawakal (Iran), Faiz Rasool (Turkey), Rukhsar Mehdi (Greece), Haji Sarfraz (Iran), Salim Jogi (Iran), Niaz Jaffar Changar (Saudi Arabia), Khalifa Imtiaz (Iran), Mazhar Buttar (Turkey), Amanat Ali (Iran), Master Afzal (Greece) and Malik Sheraz (Iran).
It is pertinent to note here that Greece had signed an accord with Iran, Pakistan and Turkey on Dec 17, 2005, in a bid to boost cooperation on fighting organized crime and illegal trafficking of immigrants. But the FIA had miserably failed in arresting the human smugglers. Insiders alleged that some of the investigators had links with agents.
Gujranwala FIA deputy-director Akram Naeem Bhroka however says the agency lacks human and financial resources to fight the growing menace.
He said that the department did not have enough vehicles to chase the wanted. He said there were only 12 personnel meant to cover the entire circle.
About lack of funds, he said official phones had been disconnected by the PTCL for non-payment.
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