IHC told the agency was unable to arrest the suspects. PHOTO: FILE
The capital’s high court on Monday has given the chief of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) one week to submit a detailed report of a case involving a teenager trafficked to Dubai.
An FIA official informed the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that it was difficult for them to arrest suspects involved in trafficking a teenager case due to influence exerted by a politician from the ruling party. FIA Deputy Director (Legal) Qaiser Mehmood claimed the agency had not been able to arrest a husband and wife accused of trafficking a 15-year-old girl, because the inspector pursuing the case was being pressurised by a Pakistan Muslim League-N MPA from Faisalabad. Mehmood, however did not reveal the MPA’s name. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui directed him to submit a written statement.
Zunaira Muhammad, a victim of the flesh trade for four years has requested the court to direction to pass orders for the arrest the suspects, Muhammad Ashfaq and Ayesha Ashfaq, who have escaped. Justice Shaukat Aziz Siddiqui ordered the FIA director general to submit a report on April 14.
The petitioner’s counsel, Advocate Zulfiqar Bhutta said his client dreamt of becoming a software engineer when a woman promised to help her finance her education. “The woman is part of a human trafficking ring and forced her into the sex trade in Dubai. After Zunaira escaped with the help of her brother-in-law, the gang attacked her home and she is still facing threats.” My client escaped from Ayesha in March 2013 after contacting her elder sister and brother-in-law Sajjad Ashraf during one of her trips to Faisalabad, he added.
“On March 1, a First Information Report (FIR) was registered against the traffickers, but the agency has yet to arrest him,” Bhutta stated. He requested the court to pass orders for his arrest. Zunaira and her family are living in hiding away from their hometown. She is receiving counselling at a shelter run by Sonia Naz, herself a victim of a gang rape, he added. The court adjourned the hearing till next week.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 8th, 2014
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