SIALKOT: A local court on Wednesday ordered confiscation of properties of main accused in the Rs330 million Umrah scam case.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had submitted a petition to the court seeking permission for confiscation of properties of Daska-based Haji Muhammad Akram Mughal.

The FIA officials told the court that the agency recently arrested Mr Mughal from Saudi Arabia with the help of Interpol. The agency sought confiscation of properties of the accused for making payment to victims.

Earlier, the court extended physical remand of the accused for four days in 38 cases registered against him by FIA. The FIA produced the handcuffed accused before the judicial magistrate in Gujranwala and sought a week-long extension in physical remand. However, the court extended remand for four days.

In 2014, Haji Akram Mughal, the owner of Nimra Travel Agency, Daska, had fled to Saudi Arabia after plundering Rs330 million from a number of people belonging to Daska, Sambrial, Sialkot, Pasrur and surrounding areas by offering them attractive Umrah packages.

Meanwhile, FIA Gujranwala Division Deputy Director Khalid Anees has assured a delegation of the affected people during a meeting that every single penny would be recovered from the accused.

In another case, FIA arrested alleged human trafficker Ahmed Hameed from his travel agency located at Sialkot Cantonment.

A team led by Sub-inspector Khizr Hayat recovered nine passports, forged documents, stamps, fake student visas and medical certificates of different embassies and embossing machines.

According to the deputy director, Hameed allegedly extorted a huge amount from people for sending them abroad especially to European, African, Middle East countries and Gulf States.

The FIA sealed the travel agency and sent the accused behind bars after registering a case against him.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2016