LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a man allegedly involved in a human trafficking case linked to the Libya boat tragedy.

FIA Composite Circle Multan arrested a suspect Shahid Abbas of Mandi Bahauddin in connection with FIR No. C-231/2026 registered under Section 22-B of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979, Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act, 2018, read with Section 109 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

According to the FIA, Abbas, in connivance with other suspects, allegedly took Rs4.5 million from the complainant on the promise of sending his father, Bashir Ahmed, to Italy on a work visa.

Instead, the accused allegedly sent Bashir Ahmed to Libya through Medina, Kuwait and Egypt before attempting to facilitate his illegal journey to Italy by boat, commonly referred to as the ‘dunki’ route.

The boat subsequently capsized at sea, resulting in the death of Bashir Ahmed, according to the FIA.

The suspect was arrested from Mandi Bahauddin and further investigation is underway to establish the role of other alleged members of the network.

In another case, the FIA Immigration wing arrested an alleged ringleader of an international Hawala/Hundi gang at Multan International Airport after he arrived in Pakistan from Saudi Arabia.

The suspect, identified as Younas Khan, was wanted by the FIA Composite Circle Dera Ghazi Khan and had been placed on the agency’s Stop List.

According to the FIA, the suspect was allegedly involved in receiving substantial amounts of Hawala/Hundi money in Saudi Arabia and sharing transaction details with his associates in Pakistan through WhatsApp.

Preliminary investigation revealed that other members of the alleged network were involved in distributing and transferring the illicit funds within Pakistan, the agency said.

The FIA claimed that another member of the same gang had previously been arrested while allegedly carrying a substantial amount of money. Mobile phones and other material allegedly linked to illegal currency exchange and Hawala/Hundi transactions were also recovered from Younas Khan.

The suspect was handed over to the FIA Composite Circle Dera Ghazi Khan for further investigation. The agency said raids were being conducted to arrest other members of the alleged network.

In a separate action, the FIA Composite Circle Multan arrested a proclaimed offender wanted in a human-smuggling case registered in Khanewal.

The suspect, Imtiaz Hussain, a resident of Khanewal, was arrested in connection with FIR No. 308/2025 registered under Section 22 of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979, read with Section 109 of the PPC.

According to the FIA, the case was registered on the complaint of Murid Abbas, a resident of Khanewal. Hussain, allegedly in connivance with co-accused Irfan Haider and Rizwan Haider, had received Rs2.685 million from the complainant on the pretext of arranging employment visas for Muscat, Oman.

The FIA alleged that the accused neither arranged employment for the victims nor sent them abroad, and also failed to return the money.

The agency said further investigation into the case was underway.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2026