Families of 13 Pakistanis held hostage in Myanmar appeal govt to take action for their release

The families of 13 Pakistani nationals, allegedly taken hostage by job scammers in Myanmar, have urgently appealed to the authorities for their release.

The victims, including two women, are reportedly confined to a compound, subjected to physical torture, and forced into luring victims for cryptocurrency scams.

According to the families, the victims travelled to Thailand on valid work visas for a construction company in March, before being moved to Laos and Myanmar.

The workers, who had completed short computer and IT courses, were recruited by an agent in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. They were promised legitimate work, but instead found themselves trapped in forced labour.

“They are being tortured, forced to work 18-hour shifts, and are made to scam people into fake cryptocurrency investments,” Danish Qamar, a resident of Wah Cantt, Punjab, whose brother and nephew are among the hostages, told Arab News.

“We have submitted requests to Pakistan’s foreign office, but so far there has been no meaningful response.”

This incident highlights the growing issue of Pakistani nationals falling prey to transnational criminal networks in Southeast Asia. Earlier this year, similar cases were reported, with six other Pakistanis held hostage by criminal gangs in Myanmar.

The US Institute of Peace raised alarms in 2022 about Myanmar’s criminal zones, which have become hubs for human trafficking, slavery, and international fraud.

Such activities have been exploiting vulnerable individuals, who are lured by the promise of high-paying jobs abroad, only to be ensnared in forced labour and fraudulent schemes.

Foreign office acknowledged the reports of detained citizens earlier this year and confirmed that the country's diplomatic mission in Myanmar is working with local authorities to secure their release. However, despite these efforts, families claim their appeals have been largely ignored.

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, spokesperson for the foreign office, confirmed the situation, saying, "Our mission is in contact with the relevant authorities." However, no further details have been provided regarding the number of hostages or the measures being taken for their release.

The victims, who have been trapped for over 20 days, remain stranded in Myanmar’s lawless border regions, where access to official help has been limited. Despite the lack of legal infrastructure, scammers operating in the area are reportedly equipped with internet and electricity to continue their operations.

“Officials say this is a lawless area, but the scammers have all the facilities to run their operations,” said Maqsood Sadiq, father of 20-year-old Suleman, one of the hostages. “We urge the government to act immediately to secure their release.”

The families have made repeated pleas to the government, stressing the urgent need for action to free their loved ones from the grip of these criminal networks.