Illegal business: FIA takes notice of human trafficking cases

Network is accused of bringing foreign women into the country using fake travel documents.

LAHORE:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Punjab director on Tuesday ordered an investigation into an alleged human trafficking network accused of bringing foreign women into the country using fake travel documents.

The mafia involved in the printing of fake Pakistani visas and “illegal business of smuggling of Central Asian women into Pakistan” should be unearthed, said FIA Director Usman Anwar.

The Federal Investigation Agency’s Immigration Wing at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore, had deported Ghuncha Komekova, a resident of Turkmenistan, and Jamila Eshonkulova of Uzbekistan, in January after their visas and invitation letters were found fake.

According to an official letter, a copy of which is available with The Express Tribune, the “fake” invitation letter to Eshonkulova, 29, had been issued by M/s Dost Trading.

The letter stated that Dost Trading registered with the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry had a different address than that given by the company on the invitation letter.

The letter said that an initial enquiry also revealed that the head office of the company was in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

An FIA official told The Express Tribune that Komekova, 39, was refused entry and deported to her country of origin on January 26 after her visa for Pakistan was found fake.

FIA Punjab Director Usman Anwar said the visa was printed on ordinary paper and lacked security features.

He said that eight to 10 members of the human trafficking gang were from Pakistan.

Anwar said the rest were in Dubai, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan according to an initial inquiry.

He said the FIA officials had contacted the Pakistani embassy in Turkmenistan to investigate the matter. “FIA teams will also be sent to Dubai soon,” he added.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2014.