GUJRAT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claimed to have arrested three “human traffickers” during an ongoing crackdown in Gujranwala region.

A spokesman for the agency said on Tuesday the Gujranwala FIA circle arrested Faizan Javed and Azeem Javed, both residents of Kacha Khan Musilman Road, Noshehra Virkan tehsil of Gujranwala in case number 34/25 on Jan 13 under section 17, 22 of Emigration Ordinance, 1979.

The suspects, he said, had extorted Rs1.1 million from the complainant on the pretext of sending him to Saudi Arabia for employment.

Further investigation is under process, he adds.

Similarly, he says, the FIA also arrested a proclaimed offender in a human trafficking case of Gujranwala. He says a wanted suspect, Zafar Iqbal, a resident of Gujrat, has been arrested in a case registered on March 29, 2022 under section 17, 22 of Emigration Ordinance 1979.

The suspect allegedly extorted Rs1.2 million from the complainant on the pretext of sending him to Italy for employment. The suspect failed to fulfill his commitment and also refused to return the amount.

The FIA spokesman said that further investigation was underway.

Published in Dawn, January 15th, 2025