Umrah visas, Australia dreams and a Rs7.5m deal

FIA intercepts three passengers allegedly planning illegal journey via Bahrain and Palau

KARACHI:

Three Pakistanis hoping to turn an Umrah trip into a clandestine journey to Australia have been stopped at Karachi airport, exposing a suspected new "dunki" route through Bahrain and the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) immigration officials intercepted the trio at Jinnah International Airport after their behaviour raised suspicion during immigration clearance. A closer look at their travel documents and mobile phones revealed a trail extending well beyond Saudi Arabia.

The passengers, travelling on Umrah visas, also carried Bahrain and Republic of Palau visas. Investigators said their alleged plan was to spend a few days in Saudi Arabia, travel onwards to Bahrain and Palau, secure temporary residence permits there and eventually attempt to reach Australia through an illegal migration route.

During questioning, the trio, identified as Nadeem Iqbal and Shehzad Ali, from Hafizabad, and Samar Shehzad from Sargodha, allegedly disclosed that they planned to stay in Saudi Arabia for around three days before travelling to Bahrain and then Palau.

They told investigators that an agent, identified as Naeem Murshid of Multan, had arranged their visas and travel for Rs2.5 million per person.

The agent had promised to arrange temporary residence permits (TRPs) for them after a stay of around three months in Palau, according to the trio. They would then attempt to reach Australia through an illegal migration route.

The FIA said documentary evidence, mobile phone data and the passengers' statements indicated that the Umrah journey was being used as a cover for an illegal migration attempt.

The three offloaded passengers were handed over to the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle for further investigation and legal action. The agency said the case had also brought to light a suspected new route for illegal migration to Australia through Bahrain and Palau under the guise of Umrah travel.