GUJRANWALA, March 13: Eighty per cent human smuggling cases were from the six districts of the region, while about 65 most-wanted accused also belonged to the area and their arrest warrants had been issued with the help of Interpol.

Federal Investigation Agency Additional Director General Mirza Muhamamd Yasin said this while talking to Dawn here on Tuesday.

He said that around 11,228 people were deported from European and Middle East countries in 2005 and 8,705 in 2006.

He said as many as 515 people were deported in the first two-and-a-half months of the current year.

He said shortage of staff, vehicles and arms etc, in FIA Gujranwala passport cell was in the notice of agency high-ups, and the facilities would be provided there soon.

He said the establishment of an FIA court in Gujranwala and a police station in Gujrat was under consideration, which would help avert human smuggling in these areas.

He said that strict action was being taken against unauthorised recruitment agencies and their owners, while regular recruiting agencies’ list had been put on a website with the help of ministry of manpower and oversees Pakistanis.

He said the most wanted human agents Malik Bashir and Malik Fiaz had been captured, while Malik Sheraz and others would be arrested soon.

Passport Cell Additional Director Hussain Asghar said about 182 peoples were being interrogated in human trafficking cases in Gujranwala.

He said it was complainants’ responsibility to provide proof against those accused of involvement in human smuggling.

Mr Asghar said the agency was also promoting awareness about human smuggling among the people. A seminar on the issue would soon be held in Lala Musa on March 24, he added.