LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Multan Zone claimed on Monday to have arrested nine suspects, including human traffickers, proclaimed offenders and individuals allegedly involved in identity fraud, hawala hundi and banking fraud, in separate operations across south Punjab during Sept 7-13.
According to FIA spokesperson, Multan composite circles in Bahawalpur and Dera Ghazi Khan took action against suspects allegedly involved in defrauding people on the pretext of arranging employment and study visas for Saudi Arabia, Italy and Qatar.
On Sept 13, the FIA Multan composite circle arrested Nawaz Safdar, nominated in FIR No. 138/2026 of the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC). He was accused of receiving Rs1.8 million from complainant Akhtar Abbas in 2025 on the promise of sending him and a friend to Italy on study visas. The suspect allegedly failed to fulfil the commitment. Further investigation is under way.
On Sept 9, the FIA Bahawalpur arrested Syed Iqbal Hussain Shah Bukhari of Lodhran in FIR No. 4/2026 CCC under provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code and Foreign Exchange Regulation Act. He was allegedly involved in the illegal business of hawala hundi in connivance with other suspects.
Separately, on Sept 9, the FIA conducted a raid on Fayyaz Jewellers on Railway Road, Hasilpur, on information that its owner, Muhammad Fayyaz, was allegedly involved in illegal currency exchange. The agency said it recovered 3,110 Saudi riyals, Rs64,110 in Pakistani currency, a foreign-currency-account cheque book, receipt books, stamps, miscellaneous receipts and a mobile phone. The suspect was apprehended and an FIR was being registered.
In another case, FIA arrested proclaimed offender Muhammad Bota of Bahawalpur on Sept 8 in FIR No. 74/2023 CBC. He was allegedly involved in a large-scale fraudulent overdraft scheme involving Habib Bank Limited accounts, in which unauthorised transfers resulted in the illegal withdrawal of approximately Rs147.29 million. The FIA alleged that Rs1.207m from the fraud was transferred to Bota’s account and misappropriated by him.
On Sept 7, the FIA
Bahawalpur circle arrested Asif of Rahim Yar Khan, in FIR No. 23/2026 AHTC under Section 22-B of the Emigration Ordinance 1979. He was accused of taking Rs560,000 from a complainant after promising to send his son to Saudi Arabia on an employment visa.
On the same day, the circle arrested Shakeel Ahmed of Bahawalpur, in FIR No. 209/2025 AHTC under Section 22-B of the Emigration Ordinance. He allegedly received Rs500,000 from a complainant for arranging employment in Saudi Arabia but failed to fulfil the promise.
Another proclaimed offender, Munir Ahmad of Khanpur, was arrested on Sept 7 in FIR No. 88/2026 AHTC under Sections 17/22 of the Emigration Ordinance.
The FIA alleged that he took Rs300,000 from Khurshid Ahmad on the promise of arranging a driving job in Saudi Arabia. Instead, the complainant was allegedly sent to Saudi Arabia for camel-herding labour, where he fell ill before returning to Pakistan after obtaining an exit permit.
In Dera Ghazi Khan, FIA arrested Allah Bux on Sept 8 in FIR No. 155/2021 under Sections 17/22 of the Emigration Ordinance. He was accused of taking Rs540,000 from Mujahid Hussain Ahmad of Muzaffargarh for sending him and three family members to Qatar on employment visas.
The FIA Bahawalpur circle also arrested two men on Sept 7 in an identity-fraud case. Zulfiqar Hussain of Rahim Yar Khan was arrested in FIR No. 23/2026 for allegedly obtaining a CNIC using the particulars of Afzal Subhani and subsequently securing a passport through the allegedly fraudulent identity. The FIA said he used the passport to travel abroad.
Afzal Subhani, the alleged accomplice, was also arrested the same day in the same case. He was accused of providing his particulars to Zulfiqar Hussain to facilitate the fraudulent acquisition of the CNIC and passport.
The FIA said investigations were under way.
Published in Dawn, September 15th, 2026
