LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is reluctant to hold an inquiry and take action against officials who are allegedly involved in human trafficking.
According to the copy of a letter available with Pakistan Today, it stated that the FIA staff at Lahore, Karachi and Sialkot airports is assisting human smugglers.
Moreover, according to the letter, it claims that in the last four months, 3,000 boys have been smuggled from these airports.
The letter was addressed to the FIA director general, the FIA additional director immigration, the FIA anti-human trafficking cell, the Supreme Court and the Interior Ministry.
Furthermore, the FIA staff present at the airport charge Rs32, 000 to Rs42, 000 from the agents for clearance of the boys.
The letter further stated that “They enter Malawi airport from where they are transported to South Africa by roads.”
“Human smugglers charge Rs50, 000 to 60,000 per person and they use unpopular destinations like Swaziland, Lesotho Namibia and Mozambique.”
The letter was written by IA Khan who alleged that despite being aware of the smugglings, the FIA officials did not take any action, adding that “FIA staff at Lahore and Sialkot airports earn around Rs1, 000, 000 to Rs2, 000, 000 on a daily basis. Staffers of different airlines have also been assisting the human traffickers.”
I A Khan claimed that he sent two letters to Deputy Director Immigration Islamabad and appealed to Chief Justice of Pakistan Mian Saqib Nisar, High Court and the Interior Ministry to take notice of this situation.
Sources privy to the matter said that people with very low profile go to Iran, Turkey, Malaysia and other countries.
“The FIA officials know that the people travelling to these places are not tourists, but are allowed to board the flights as they are aware that they will receive their share of the money,” the sources said, adding that “this phenomenon has gone unnoticed for way too long and needs to be addressed”.
Pakistan Today tried getting in touch with the FIA Additional Director Immigration Imran Ahmer who did not respond to phone calls despite repeated attempts.
However, FIA Deputy Director Administration and Punjab Spokesperson Khawaja Hammad Ahmed denied receiving any information regarding this within the agency saying, “No letter has been received by the FIA, thus no investigation is being held in this regard.”
