The two victims had earlier taken refuge in the Uzbek diplomatic mission. PHOTO: FILE
A senior civil judge on Monday directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to deport two Uzbek victims of trafficking to their home country.
The girls had earlier taken refuge in Uzbekistan’s diplomatic mission in Islamabad after getting bail last week.
The interim bail of the accused human smuggler was also cancelled by the court.
Reliable FIA sources informed the Express Investigation Cell that the court directed FIA authorities to deport Victoria and Nadara to their home country as per their request as they are victims of human trafficking.
Earlier, the girls could not appear before the court at the last hearing as they had been taking refuge in Uzbekistan’s Embassy.
The FIA’s Anti-Human Smuggling circle led by assistant director Babar Khan and investigation officer Zahid, rushed to the embassy and recorded the statement of both girls through their embassy officials. The girls disclosed that they were brought by a member of a trafficking den, Pervaiz, on the assurance that they would be provided ‘respectful’ jobs with a $1,000 monthly salary. Later, they were forced to become sex workers.
The FIA investigation team inducted the name of the accused and also brought the matter before the judge, who ultimately ordered that both girls be deported.
Meanwhile the accused Pervaiz was also arrested by the FIA team. His bail before arrest was cancelled by the court on the objection of the FIA legal team and investigation officer on Monday.
Earlier, the accused had obtained interim bail from the court, when his name was inducted in the case to avoid his arrest.
When contacted, the director FIA Islamabad zone Inam Ghani confirmed the arrest of Pervaiz.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 14th, 2014.
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