GUJRAT: The court of Gujrat special judge (criminal) on Tuesday handed down a human trafficker linked to June 2023 boat capsize tragedy off the Libyan Coast near Greece, total 19-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) and imposed a Rs1.3 million fine on him.

As per the case FIR No 241/24 registered on April 26, 2024, under section 17/22 of the Emigration Ordinance (EO) 1979, 6 of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act (PSMA) 2018, the convict, Chaudhry Sajjad, had extorted Rs4.43m from the complainant for sending his two sons to Italy for employment.

But, unfortunately, the two youths later died in the boat capsize incident in Libya in 2023.

The convict was awardedfive-year jail term (RI), with Rs100,000 fine, under section 17 of the EO, 1979. The judge ordered that in case of default on fine payment, the convict will serve an additional four-month term.

Under section 22 of the EO, 1979, he was handed down seven-year term (RI), with a Rs100,000 fine and in case of default, an additional simple imprisonment for four months.

Under section 6 of the PSMA, 2018, the convict was handed down seven-year (RI) with a fine of Rs100,000 and in case of default, an additional simple imprisonment for four months.

Under section 545 of the CrPC, the court also imposed Rs1 million fine, which shall be recoverable as land revenue and after recovery, the amount shall be given to the complainant as compensation.

An FIA official says the case was investigated by Gujrat zone Sub-Inspector Irtaza Ansar and prosecuted by Asfhan Akram Kang, Assistant Director (legal) under the supervision of Gujranwala zone Director Muhammad Bin Ashraf.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2026