LAHORE:
Around 71 Pakistani and Afghan nationals have reached the United Kingdom, using stolen and forged travel document, allegedly with the help of Pakistani immigration officials, according to a report sent by the British government to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
The report highlights the sharp rise in the number of refugees turning up at airports across Europe with falsified travel documents, or no documents at all, and that a significant percentage of these migrants start their journey from Islamabad airport.
The report identifies the specific case of 71 illegal immigrants from Pakistan and Afghanistan, who arrived in Britain between January 1, 2010 and May 17, 2011. They allegedly paid Rs70 million to human traffickers, who moved them from Lahore and Islamabad airports to Britain on 13 flights. Of the 13 flights, 12 were from Islamabad and one from Lahore.
Some of those who attempted to migrate were carrying fake British passports or visas. Others were carrying fake German residency permits. Not all of them landed directly in the UK. Many stopped at airports on mainland Europe.
British officials allege that a significant percentage of the Rs1 million it costs each migrant to travel to Europe goes towards paying bribes to FIA officials to look the other way or otherwise collude in human trafficking.
FIA officials have begun taking action after receiving the British report and at least eight officers have been suspended, pending further investigation of the allegations, according to FIA officials familiar with the matter. Further investigations and suspensions are expected in the near future.
Criminal charges have been filed against eight officers accused of violating Pakistan’s anti-human trafficking laws - all part of the FIA’s immigration wing at Islamabad airport.
ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS TO UK FROM PAKISTAN
| Date | Number | Nationality | Departed from |
| May 17, 2011 | 5 | Pakistani | Islamabad |
| April 11, 2011 | 5 | Afghan | Islamabad |
| April 5, 2011 | 6 | Afghan | Islamabad |
| April 1, 2011 | 6 | Pakistani | Islamabad |
| Jan 31, 2011 | 9 | Afghan | Islamabad |
| Oct 10, 2010 | 5 | Afghan | Islamabad |
| Sep 19, 2010 | 4 | Afghan | Islamabad |
| Sep 18, 2010 | 4 | Afghan | Islamabad |
| Sep 15, 2010 | 7 | Afghan | Islamabad |
| May 19, 2010 | 6 | Pakistani | Lahore |
| Feb 13, 2010 | 7 | Afghan | Islamabad |
| Feb 2, 2010 | 3 | Afghan | Islamabad |
| Jan 19, 2010 | 4 | Pakistani | Islamabad |
Published in The Express Tribune, May 26th, 2011.
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