ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), as part of its countrywide campaign, have registered 7,430 cases of human trafficking and nabbed 7,381 persons involved in this crime during two years.
A break-up of registered cases against human traffickers showed that during year 2016, of the total 4096 cases, 3349 were registered in Punjab, 140 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), 77 in Sindh, 181 in Balochistan and 349 cases in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
Similarly, during 2017, of the total 3334 registered cases, 2784 were registered in Punjab, 85 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), 82 in Sindh, 59 in Balochistan and 324 cases in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
The total number of persons arrested and involved in human trafficking during 2016 was 4233. Of the total, 3635 were arrested in Punjab, 138 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), 29 in Sindh, 11 in Balochistan and 420 arrests were made in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
During 2017, the number of persons arrested and involved in human trafficking was 3148. Of the total, 2746 were arrested in Punjab, 69 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), 31 in Sindh, 04 in Balochistan and 298 arrests were made in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
When contacted regarding action taken against traffickers/agents who were involved in Turbat incident in which 15 persons lost their lives recently, sources at Interior Division on Thursday said a video was uploaded on social media on November 15, 2017 regarding murder of 15 innocent Pakistani nationals in Turbat, Balochistan.
These deceased persons were from different districts of Gujranwala Division in Punjab and were enroute to cross Pak-Iran Border illegally with facilitation of local as well as cross border Human Smugglers and agents for their journey to Europe via land route passing through Iran, Turkey and Greece.
The sources said later on, the same video was telecast in electronic media.
The FIA immediately took action and initiated legal proceedings against human smugglers/human traffickers/agents involved in this incident.
After three days on November 18, another media report was flashed according to which five more innocent persons were killed in District Kech, Turbot Balochistan by unknown murderers. These five persons were also from Gujranwala Division and they were being smuggled to Europe via Iran, Turkey and Greece. They were in Balochistan to cross Pak-Iran Border illegally with facilitation of local as well as cross border human smugglers. FIA immediately took action and initiated, legal proceedings against the human smugglers involved in this incident.
The sources said FIA Gujranwala and Gujrat immediately contacted the parents/relative of the deceased persons and it was unearthed during preliminary proceedings/interrogation that these deceased intending emigrants were taken to Quetta on October 31, 2017 through bus from Gujrat by local agents.
It was further disclosed by their parents/relatives that these deceased persons were then to be taken to Iran after crossing Pak-Iran border illegally with help of local agents based in Quetta and also the agents in Iran.
The agents in Turkey, Greece, Italy and Germany were also in contact with local agents in Quetta and those in Iran for getting these innocent intending emigrants to Italy and Germany through land route of Iran, Turkey and Greece.
With regard to actions taken by FIA against traffickers/agents who were involved in Turbat incident, the sources said 19 persons have been identified as deceased.
FIA Gujranwala/Gujrat contacted the deceased families and got information about the agents involved and upon disclosure, 07 FIRs have been registered. Out of them 17 agents have been identified and 07 arrested.
Two identified agents are presently residing abroad while one (01) agent has been identified by FIA/Balochistan during investigation.
FIA is investigating the cases purely on merit and scientific techniques.
Other Law Enforcement Agencies and Intelligence Agencies have been taken on-board to finalize the investigation.
Call Date Records (CDRs), VeriSys and location of deceased mobiles and the agents involved are being compared and analyzed while 14 Iranian Agents have also been identified.
Letters have been issued to INTERPOL and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for contacting Iranian Police authorities for apprehending 14 Iranian agents.
Law Enforcement Agencies and Intelligence Agencies are sharing valuable information as and when received. FIA Gujranwala is continuously striving against the land route mafia and other illegal human traffickers.
