Seven held in human trafficking cases across Gujranwala zone

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested seven suspects in separate human trafficking cases in Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sialkot.

GUJRANWALA:  The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested seven suspects in separate human trafficking cases in Gujranwala, Gujrat and Sialkot.

According to the FIA Gujranwala zone, four suspects were arrested by the Gujranwala circle, one by the Gujrat circle and two by the Sialkot circle.

The suspects were identified as Sohail Shafqat, Kaleemullah, Faheem Ahmed Qureshi, Arshad Ali Bhatti, Rameez Haider, Munir Mazhar and Asif Akram. Several of them were proclaimed offenders, the FIA said.

The agency alleged that the suspects had collected money from citizens after promising to arrange travel to Italy, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Azerbaijan and other European countries, as well as overseas employment. The suspects allegedly failed to fulfil their promises and did not return the money received from the complainants.

According to the FIA, a total of Rs4.181 million was allegedly collected from victims in the cases.
In one of the cases, suspect Kaleemullah allegedly arranged forged documents in 2015 and submitted them to the Turkish embassy for obtaining a visa. The FIA said Rs350,000 had allegedly been paid to an agent for the arrangement.

In another case, the Sialkot circle arrested Faheem Ahmed Qureshi in four separate cases registered as FIRs 98/26, 99/26, 100/26 and 101/26. He is accused of receiving substantial amounts from four people on the promise of sending them to Europe but allegedly failed to arrange their travel.

The FIA said legal proceedings against the suspects were being conducted under the Emigration Ordinance, 1979, and other relevant laws.

Further investigations are under way, while the agency said it would continue action against elements involved in human trafficking and allegedly defrauding citizens on the pretext of overseas employment and travel.