Human trafficking: FIA arrests two suspects

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two suspected human smugglers in two separate raids in Islamabad. The suspects, identified as Khairul Bashar and Abdul Shakoor, were arrested by the FIA anti-human trafficking cell (AHTC) on Monday.

FIA officials said Bashar had been swindling people out of large sums by promising to send them to Cyprus on study and work visas.

Last month, the suspect received Rs 200,000 from Tauqeer Babar to arrange a work visa for Cyprus. Babar was supposed to pay Bashar another Rs350,000 after getting the visa.

Bashar gave him a visa, which Babar took to the Cyprus embassy in Islamabad for verification. The embassy found the
visa documents to be forged and handed Babar over to the FIA.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 26^th, 2016.