GUJRAT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claimed to have arrested another suspect involved in human trafficking, allegedly linked to the recent boat capsize tragedy off Greece.

FIA Gujranwala Zone has so far lodged at least 22 cases against the human traffickerslinked to the boat tragedy occurring around 10 days ago, arresting eight of the suspectsso far during the ongoing crackdown.

As per officials, on the directions of FIA Director General Ahmed Ishaq Jahangeer, Gujrat FIA Crime circle arrested a suspected human trafficker, Saleem Akhtar, a resident of Kasib village.

The suspect was booked in case No 405/24 under sections 22(b) of the Emigration Ordinance (EO) 1979, read with section 3/6 of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act (PSMA) 2018.

22 cases so far lodged against human traffickers during FIA crackdown

As per prosecution, the suspect, along with some accomplices, was running a human trafficking ring. He allegedly extorted Rs2.8 million from the family of a boat tragedy victim, Rehman Ali, son of Ehsan Ullah, a resident of Kamala Chak, on the pretext of securing an employment visa of Greece.

The FIA is investigating the case.

The agency has also arrested another suspected human trafficker, Javed Ashraf of Morr Emanabad, Gujranwala, in case number 1109/2024 registered under section 17/22 of the EO 1979.

As per prosecution, he had allegedly extorted Rs6.2m from the complainant, Faizan, of Gujranwala district, on the pretext for sending him and his wife to England for employment.

FIA Gujranwala Director Abdul Qadir Qamar said FIA would make every effort to get the suspects convicted for human trafficking.

Meanwhile, FIA immigration authorities offloaded a South Africa-bound passenger at Sialkot airport.

The passenger, Awais Ijaz, of Mandi Bahauddin, was trying to travel on forged passport. He was handed over to the FIA’s anti-human trafficking cell in Gujrat for further investigation.

Sources in the FIA say that out of the total 22 cases lodged so far, some 10 were in connection with those missing after the boat tragedy. They says that it transpired later that seven of these missing persons had died in the boat tragedy.

The sources added that initially the FIA had become complainant in the cases, but now the heirs of the survivors have started filing complaints against the human traffickers.

The government has so far confirmed the death of seven Pakistanis in the recent boat tragedy, whereas 35 others were still missing and were presumed as dead. At least 47 Pakistanis survived in the incident.

The sources say that the lone injured Pakistani citizen admitted to a hospital in Greece has recovered and was discharged by doctors.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2024