ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) made a dramatic arrest of a suspected human smuggler "who was trying to flee the country" aboard a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight at the Benazir Bhutto International Airport Thursday.

Hailing from Mardan, suspect Ahteshamul Haq is a "notorious human smuggler" who was wanted by the FIA, said a statement issued by the agency.

The statement said the suspect was trying to escape the country on flight PK-741 bound for Jeddah, when he was arrested by FIA personnel moments before take-off.

The plane had started to taxi when FIA ordered the plane to be stopped and arrested the suspect, airport sources added.

The suspect, who is married to a PIA air hostess, owns a travel agency business in Rawalpindi's Chandni Chowk area, said the FIA statement.

A PIA official confirmed the arrest of the human trafficking suspect.

Pakistan retained its position in the US State Department Trafficking in Persons report for 2015, released last year in July. It remains on the tier-2 watch list of countries that face a major trafficking problem but are also making significant efforts to improve the situation.