GUJRANWALA, July 25: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sealed two travel agencies and arrested their owners for their alleged involvement in human smuggling here on Wednesday.

FIA Director Hussain Asgher said that Ghakkhar-based ATN and Shebazi travel agencies had been involved in human trafficking since long.

He said a team, led by inspector Mian Sabir, conducted raids on their offices and arrested owners Abdul Hafiz and Abdul Tawab. He said the raiding team also recovered 10 passports from their possession.

Shutter down: Traders shut down their shops in protest against a military operation at Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa while religious and opposition parties staged a demonstration protest on Wednesday.

Responding to Tahaffuz-i-Madaris Diniya committee’s call for strike, traders of Gala Qasaban, Said Nagri and Circular Road shut their shops. Some shops at the Fish Market continued their business.

Hundred of the protesters led by Bilal Qudrat Butt, Zahid Rashdi, Khuram Dastgir, Rauf Mughal, Usman Ibrahim and SA Hameed gathered at the Clock Tower Chowk. They marched towards the railway station through bazaars. They also forced Fish Market traders to shut their shops in the presence of police. They chanted slogans against the government.

HANGED: A condemned prisoner was hanged in the central jail here on Wednesday morning.

Jail authorities later handed over the body to his heirs.

Reports said that Muhammad Munir had killed his friend Liaquat Ali over a minor issue in Sohdra village in 1995.

The high court and the Supreme Court had upheld the decision of the lower court. The president had also rejected his clemency appeal.