Selling false hopes: FIA books four human traffickers
Among their clients was a man who committed suicide in Saudi Arabia
When asked if the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia had been approached for assistance, Zahid said he did not know how to approach the embassy, nor had the embassy offered up any help on its own. PHOTO: REUTERS
RAWALPINDI:
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a criminal case against four men for sending Shahid Iqbal to Saudi Arabia. Iqbal committed suicide on July 31 over non-payment of wages.
Meanwhile, Iqbal’s family is still trying to bring back his body from Saudi Arabia.
FIA officials said the agency had booked agents Union Manpower and sub agents Muhammad Sheraz, Rahmat Hussain, Raees Kiani, and Muhammad Khaliq for allegedly taking money from Shahid and sending him to Saudi Arabia.
The FIA charged them with forging documents and agreements for employment in Saudi Arabia, receiving money to provide a job in a foreign country, violating the Emigration Ordinance, and other charges.
On the information provided by Zahid Iqbal, a brother of Shahid Iqbal, the FIA arrested Muhammad Sheraz, Rehmat Hussain, and Muhammad Khaliq.
Zahid Iqbal told The Express Tribune that his brother’s friends had been trying to help bring back the body for the last 10 days. He said that the family was desperate and wanted the dead body to be delivered to them without delay.
When asked if the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia had been approached for assistance, Zahid said he did not know how to approach the embassy, nor had the embassy offered up any help on its own.
He said Shahid Iqbal went to Saudi Arabia in May 2016 after paying Rs300,000 for a job at a packing company. He said that the agent in Pakistan told Shahid his monthly salary would be 1,400 Saudi Riyals (SR), but the company said that he would only be paid SR700 every month.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2016.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a criminal case against four men for sending Shahid Iqbal to Saudi Arabia. Iqbal committed suicide on July 31 over non-payment of wages.
Meanwhile, Iqbal’s family is still trying to bring back his body from Saudi Arabia.
FIA officials said the agency had booked agents Union Manpower and sub agents Muhammad Sheraz, Rahmat Hussain, Raees Kiani, and Muhammad Khaliq for allegedly taking money from Shahid and sending him to Saudi Arabia.
The FIA charged them with forging documents and agreements for employment in Saudi Arabia, receiving money to provide a job in a foreign country, violating the Emigration Ordinance, and other charges.
On the information provided by Zahid Iqbal, a brother of Shahid Iqbal, the FIA arrested Muhammad Sheraz, Rehmat Hussain, and Muhammad Khaliq.
Zahid Iqbal told The Express Tribune that his brother’s friends had been trying to help bring back the body for the last 10 days. He said that the family was desperate and wanted the dead body to be delivered to them without delay.
When asked if the Pakistani Embassy in Saudi Arabia had been approached for assistance, Zahid said he did not know how to approach the embassy, nor had the embassy offered up any help on its own.
He said Shahid Iqbal went to Saudi Arabia in May 2016 after paying Rs300,000 for a job at a packing company. He said that the agent in Pakistan told Shahid his monthly salary would be 1,400 Saudi Riyals (SR), but the company said that he would only be paid SR700 every month.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 11th, 2016.