Forgery and human trafficking: FIA arrests UK mission’s visa officer
British High Commission confirms arrest, promises help in investigation.
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistani authorities have arrested a junior employee of the British High Commission (BHC) along with his accomplices on charges of human trafficking and forgery.
Khurram Shahzad Gill, a junior visa officer at BHC in Islamabad, was arrested by the anti-human trafficking wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Officials claimed that they have recovered UK sponsorship certificates and other documents, including passports, from Gill’s possession.
After investigation of the prime accused, the FIA took into custody three others people namely Alvin Earnest, Muhammad Ali and Uneeb from Rawalpindi.
The British High Commission on Saturday confirmed the arrest of a junior visa officer but did not give his name or other details.
“We can confirm that a junior member of the British High Commission visa section has been arrested. We are in contact with the FIA and we will cooperate with them in their investigation,” said a BHC spokesperson.
“These arrests were made after the FIA was tipped off that a visa officer in collaboration with some other persons was receiving heavy amounts for making counterfeit documents,” an FIA official said.
He said all the accused will be produced before a special duty magistrate today (Sunday) to get their remand.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2011.
Pakistani authorities have arrested a junior employee of the British High Commission (BHC) along with his accomplices on charges of human trafficking and forgery.
Khurram Shahzad Gill, a junior visa officer at BHC in Islamabad, was arrested by the anti-human trafficking wing of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
Officials claimed that they have recovered UK sponsorship certificates and other documents, including passports, from Gill’s possession.
After investigation of the prime accused, the FIA took into custody three others people namely Alvin Earnest, Muhammad Ali and Uneeb from Rawalpindi.
The British High Commission on Saturday confirmed the arrest of a junior visa officer but did not give his name or other details.
“We can confirm that a junior member of the British High Commission visa section has been arrested. We are in contact with the FIA and we will cooperate with them in their investigation,” said a BHC spokesperson.
“These arrests were made after the FIA was tipped off that a visa officer in collaboration with some other persons was receiving heavy amounts for making counterfeit documents,” an FIA official said.
He said all the accused will be produced before a special duty magistrate today (Sunday) to get their remand.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2011.