FIA arrests women at Karachi Airport for begging under Umrah pretense

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) immigration conducted a significant operation at Karachi Airport, arresting two female passengers involved in begging under the guise of performing Umrah.

The women have been identified as Patil Khatoon and Subhana. During interrogation, they failed to provide any documents related to hotel bookings and had no money for travel expenses.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Subhana's son is illegally residing in Saudi Arabia, having gone there on an Umrah visa in 2022.

An FIA spokesperson stated that the woman's son is also involved in begging, and further information is being gathered. The arrested women have been transferred to the Anti-Human Smuggling Circle in Karachi for further legal proceedings, where additional investigations are ongoing

Recently FIA Director General Ahmad Ishaq Jahangir highlighted Pakistan's commitment to combating organized crime, with a particular focus on human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

During his address at the 12th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP) for the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC), he emphasized the importance of a comprehensive strategy to address the underlying issues driving these crimes.

Last month the FIA immigration team intercepted Munawar Hussain and Shafia Bibi at Faisalabad Airport as they sought to board a flight to Saudi Arabia with a minor. This couple had a history of traveling to Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia for begging purposes.

Just weeks prior, they had been stopped at Lahore Airport for similar reasons. Investigations revealed no registered tax returns with the FBR, and they were unable to provide a return ticket or hotel reservations.

Pakistani Beggars in KSA pose threat to pilgrims

The FIA has been instructed to take action against networks sending beggars to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas. Saudi authorities have raised concerns that the growing presence of Pakistani beggars could disrupt the experiences of genuine pilgrims.

This issue was highlighted to Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, prompting a response from Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. He reassured Saudi officials that strict measures would be enforced to address the problem.

This crackdown is part of a larger initiative to safeguard Pakistan’s image abroad and prevent the exploitation of Umrah visas.