Mauritania boat tragedy: Human trafficker jailed for 10 years

A Special Judge Central-I court in Gujranwala has sentenced a human trafficker to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed fines in a case

GUJRANWALA:  A Special Judge Central-I court in Gujranwala has sentenced a human trafficker to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed fines in a case linked to the Mauritania boat tragedy, according to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The court convicted accused Tariq Mahmood in FIR No. 55/2025 registered under Sections 17 and 22 of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979, and Sections 3 and 6 of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act, 2018.

According to the prosecution case, Mahmood had allegedly taken Rs8 million from a family after promising to send two young men a son and a nephew of the complainant to Spain for employment. The accused allegedly failed to send them to Spain or fulfil the promised arrangement.

The two young men subsequently died in the boat tragedy in Mauritania, according to the FIR.
Following registration of the case, the FIA conducted an investigation and the matter proceeded to trial before the Special Judge Central-I. After hearing the prosecution and examining the evidence, the court convicted Mahmood.
The court awarded the accused 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs1 million under Section 22(b) of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979.

He was also sentenced to four years’ rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs500,000 under Section 17(2)(b) of the same ordinance.
Under Section 6 read with Section 3 of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act, 2018, the court awarded another seven years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs500,000.
The sentences will run concurrently, meaning the accused will serve the maximum applicable sentence rather than serving each term consecutively. In case of non-payment of the fines, the court ordered an additional six months’ imprisonment.

The court also directed payment of compensation under Section 544-A of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Accordingly, Rs1 million each was ordered to be paid to Musammat Misbah Bibi and Muhammad Jaffer.
The case was investigated by the FIA Gujranwala Zone, while Assistant Director Legal Samar Bhatti conducted the prosecution before the court under the supervision of the Director FIA Gujranwala Zone.

The Mauritania boat tragedy had brought renewed attention to the risks faced by Pakistanis attempting irregular migration through dangerous routes. Human traffickers and agents often lure prospective migrants with promises of employment and legal travel arrangements before sending them through unsafe or unauthorised routes.
The latest conviction is being described by the FIA Gujranwala Zone as a significant development in its action against those involved in human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

The agency said it would continue pursuing such cases before courts to secure convictions against people involved in illegal migration networks.
The FIA urged people seeking employment abroad to use legal migration channels and verify travel and employment arrangements before handing over money to agents.
The agency has repeatedly warned prospective migrants against falling victim to traffickers who promise overseas employment or entry into European countries in return for large sums of money.

The conviction in the Gujranwala case also highlights the legal consequences for agents found responsible for facilitating or attempting to facilitate illegal migration.
The FIA said its Gujranwala Zone would continue investigations and prosecution of human trafficking and migrant-smuggling cases as part of efforts to prevent people from being exposed to dangerous migration routes.