RAWALPINDI: The FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Cell has booked five immigration officials suspected of being involved in human trafficking, but none of these officials have been arrested.

The alleged involvement of immigration officials and Turkish Airlines officials in human trafficking came to light after three individuals travelling to Libya via Turkey on Aug 16, 2016, were refused entry by the Turkish authorities after their visas were discovered to be fake. They were deported to Pakistan on August 24.

The FIR said, FIA’s immigration staff at Benazir Bhutto International Airport, “in connivance with Turkish Airlines officials”, sent three people to Libya via Turkey, where they were denied entry by Turkish immigration officials.

It quoted the deported travellers as saying they had paid a travel agent from Kotli, AJK, Rs954,000 for visas. However, the Libyan embassy in Islamabad confirmed that these visas were bogus.

The FIR said boarding passes were issued to the three passengers by Arslan Ahmed, who is associated with the airport handling service. Five immigration officials at BBIA, Ziaul Hasan, acting director Azmat Khan, inspector Faisal Kahoot, head constable Qari Arshad and assistant sub-inspector Shabana Saddique have also been booked by the agency.

Published in Dawn September 5th, 2016