FIA arrests eight suspects linked to international begging rings

Saudi Ministry urges Pakistan to address rising issue of beggars traveling to the Kingdom under Umrah visas.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Karachi has arrested eight passengers in two separate operations for attempting to travel using fake documents, with some involved in begging schemes abroad.

In the first operation, five passengers were detained at the airport while attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia under the guise of performing Umrah, as reported by Express news.

The individuals, identified as Noori Anwar, Aasia Bibi, Sameena Bibi, Sakeena Bibi, and Muhammad Akram, were stopped during immigration clearance on flights QR 611 and XY 638.

The initial investigation revealed they intended to beg in Saudi Arabia, and they failed to provide valid documents regarding their hotel bookings or travel expenses.

The passengers were transferred to Karachi’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle for further legal action.

In a second operation, the FIA arrested three passengers attempting to travel to Azerbaijan on fake study visas.

The suspects, identified as Salman, Muhammad Noman, and Muhammad Hussain, were flagged during immigration checks for suspicious documents.

A fake German visa was also found on Muhammad Hussain’s phone.

Initial investigations revealed that the suspects obtained fake study visas through a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-based agent named Asim, who had arranged the Azerbaijan visas with the promise of acquiring German visas upon their arrival.

The passengers paid large sums to the agent, with Hussain, a police officer in Peshawar, paying Rs. 800,000.

All suspects have been handed over to the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle for further legal proceedings.

Saudi Ministry Urges Action Against Pakistani Beggars

The Ministry of Hajj in Saudi Arabia formally urged Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs to address the growing issue of Pakistani beggars entering the Kingdom under Umrah visas.

Saudi authorities raised concerns that the activities of these beggars could negatively impact the experience of both Umrah and Hajj pilgrims.

The letter sent to the Ministry of Religious Affairs warned that if the situation is not resolved, it could disrupt the religious journeys of Pakistani pilgrims.

In response, the Pakistani Ministry of Religious Affairs has been working on an "Umrah Act" to regulate the operations of travel agencies facilitating Umrah trips.

The Act aims to bring these agencies under legal oversight, preventing beggars from traveling under the guise of religious pilgrimage.

The ministry has also contacted other government departments to crack down on the mafias responsible for sending beggars to Saudi Arabia.

Pakistani Beggars in Saudi Arabia Could Disrupt Pilgrims

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has been directed to crack down on networks involved in sending beggars to Saudi Arabia under Umrah visas.

Saudi authorities have warned that the increasing number of Pakistani beggars could disrupt the experience of legitimate pilgrims.

The issue was brought to the attention of Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, prompting a response from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi.

He assured Saudi officials that strict measures would be implemented to tackle the issue.

The FIA has already taken steps to address the problem, offloading 11 suspected beggars from a Saudi-bound flight at Karachi airport last month.

During questioning, these individuals admitted that they were planning to beg in Saudi Arabia.

The crackdown on such networks is part of a broader effort to protect Pakistan's reputation abroad and prevent the misuse of Umrah visas.

Family Involved in Begging Offloaded from Umrah Flight

The FIA immigration team at Faisalabad Airport arrested a family attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia under the guise of performing Umrah but who were allegedly involved in begging.

Munawar Hussain, Shafia Bibi, and a minor were detained after authorities found they had previously traveled to Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia for begging purposes.

The accused had no proof of income, no return tickets, and lacked proper hotel bookings.

The family was transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Faisalabad for further investigation.

FIA sources confirmed that this was not the first time the accused had been stopped, as they had been offloaded from a flight earlier this month at Lahore Airport.

The FIA continues its efforts to curb such activities and prevent individuals from misusing religious travel for illegal purposes.