Hajj on visit visas: Suspect’s remand extended by two days

FIA to investigate if suspect had accomplices

RAWALPINDI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday obtained a two-day extension in physical remand of a man arrested for allegedly sending dozens of people to Saudi Arabia for Hajj last year on visit visas.

FIA Investigator Ahmed Ali Shah produced the suspect Attique Rehman before duty magistrate Ehtashamul Haq in Islamabad and sought a five-day remand.

The court however granted the agency two-days physical custody of the suspect.

The suspect had already spent three days in custody of the FIA after the agency obtained his remand.

The investigator told the court said that the suspect had no permission or licence to send people for Hajj.

He argued that they required more time to interrogate the suspect about his other accomplices since he alone could not obtain such a large number of visit visas for Saudi Arabia especially during Hajj season.

The investigator further said that the suspect had advertised, portraying himself as a Hajj operator even though he lacked
the requisite authorisation from ministry of religious affairs.

On January 20, the FIA lodged an FIR on the complaint of Mustafa Mughal who had travelled to Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage along with his wife on visit visa provided by Rehman.

The Express Tribune had further learnt that FIA had also registered an identical case against Attique in Swabi.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 26^th, 2017.