Looking into reasons: Supreme Court forms panel to probe human trafficking
Review commission to visit Torkham and Chaman borders, assess immigration process
Supreme Court. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
The top court has formed a commission to visit Torkham and Chaman borders and submit report reviewing the overall situation. The process of immigration as well as reasons of human trafficking will be reviewed.
The apex court, headed by chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja while hearing case regarding the human trafficking had observed that the commission is headed by Additional Attorney General Waqar Ahmad Rana. He also noted that other members are Director law FIA, Jafar Shah, Additional Advocate General K-P Umar Farooq, Assistant AG Balochistan and a representative of customs department. The commission will visit sites of both borders and examine the security situation and immigration process. The commission is asked to submit report along with photos on September 1.
The bench has observed that the facts show that there is a contradiction in the government’s statements and actions regarding fight against terrorism.
During the hearing, Director Law FIA Jafar Shah told the bench that people visit Afghanistan without visa immigration, adding that FIA has no authority on Torkham border.
A member of the bench Justice Faez Isa remarked that due to weak monitoring system, anyone can illegally cross the Torkham border. He also questioned whether the government was aware that terrorists are continuously crossing that border easily. The judge observed that it is a matter of surprise that the immigration laws are inactive at Torkham border. He added that biometric system was enforced on that border but intentionally it has been out of order.
Justice Isa also said that if the situation will remain the same then the war on terror would not be a success as people are crossing borders easily.
The bench observed that there is no record of people, who enter in Pakistan’s territory, adding that a number of Somalis are illegally residing in Islamabad.
The court said that the government is not serious regarding the repatriation of hundreds of Pakistanis. They are languishing in foreign jails, adding that most of them lost their lives.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior FIA official has said the most wanted human traffickers have illegally sent around 13,201 Pakistani nationals through various routes.
It has already been reported that with an alarming rise in human trafficking, Pakistan may devolve to the ‘Tier-3 List’. This is a group of 23 countries that face various sanctions due to their failure to comply with the minimum standards to prevent human smuggling.
If this happens Pakistan will be the first South Asian country to be put on the list.
In June, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Akbar Khan Hoti informed the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, “If Pakistan fails to improve its performance to curb human trafficking [this year], it would be degraded to ‘Tier-3’ with possibility of new sanctions,”
“The country may face aid cut, travel restrictions – there is a possibility of sanctions that could only be waived by the US president,” he added
He said the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2014 issued by the US Department of State revealed that the number of most-wanted human traffickers in Pakistan has jumped from 78 to 95. The country is currently on ‘Tier-2 Watch List’.
“The FIA, being the focal agency, has taken up the issue of human trafficking with the provinces. This includes cases of bonded labour, slavery, prostitution, domestic servitude and child labour, which need major improvement on drastic grounds,” he said.
Talking to The Express Tribune, FIA’s former DG Zafarullah Khan said Pakistan needs to review its laws to tighten noose around most wanted human traffickers.
“The Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance 2002 and other related laws of the FIA need to be upgraded. This would be helpful to scan all routes leading towards borders of other countries,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2015.
The top court has formed a commission to visit Torkham and Chaman borders and submit report reviewing the overall situation. The process of immigration as well as reasons of human trafficking will be reviewed.
The apex court, headed by chief justice Jawwad S Khawaja while hearing case regarding the human trafficking had observed that the commission is headed by Additional Attorney General Waqar Ahmad Rana. He also noted that other members are Director law FIA, Jafar Shah, Additional Advocate General K-P Umar Farooq, Assistant AG Balochistan and a representative of customs department. The commission will visit sites of both borders and examine the security situation and immigration process. The commission is asked to submit report along with photos on September 1.
The bench has observed that the facts show that there is a contradiction in the government’s statements and actions regarding fight against terrorism.
During the hearing, Director Law FIA Jafar Shah told the bench that people visit Afghanistan without visa immigration, adding that FIA has no authority on Torkham border.
A member of the bench Justice Faez Isa remarked that due to weak monitoring system, anyone can illegally cross the Torkham border. He also questioned whether the government was aware that terrorists are continuously crossing that border easily. The judge observed that it is a matter of surprise that the immigration laws are inactive at Torkham border. He added that biometric system was enforced on that border but intentionally it has been out of order.
Justice Isa also said that if the situation will remain the same then the war on terror would not be a success as people are crossing borders easily.
The bench observed that there is no record of people, who enter in Pakistan’s territory, adding that a number of Somalis are illegally residing in Islamabad.
The court said that the government is not serious regarding the repatriation of hundreds of Pakistanis. They are languishing in foreign jails, adding that most of them lost their lives.
Talking to The Express Tribune, a senior FIA official has said the most wanted human traffickers have illegally sent around 13,201 Pakistani nationals through various routes.
It has already been reported that with an alarming rise in human trafficking, Pakistan may devolve to the ‘Tier-3 List’. This is a group of 23 countries that face various sanctions due to their failure to comply with the minimum standards to prevent human smuggling.
If this happens Pakistan will be the first South Asian country to be put on the list.
In June, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Director General Akbar Khan Hoti informed the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control, “If Pakistan fails to improve its performance to curb human trafficking [this year], it would be degraded to ‘Tier-3’ with possibility of new sanctions,”
“The country may face aid cut, travel restrictions – there is a possibility of sanctions that could only be waived by the US president,” he added
He said the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report 2014 issued by the US Department of State revealed that the number of most-wanted human traffickers in Pakistan has jumped from 78 to 95. The country is currently on ‘Tier-2 Watch List’.
“The FIA, being the focal agency, has taken up the issue of human trafficking with the provinces. This includes cases of bonded labour, slavery, prostitution, domestic servitude and child labour, which need major improvement on drastic grounds,” he said.
Talking to The Express Tribune, FIA’s former DG Zafarullah Khan said Pakistan needs to review its laws to tighten noose around most wanted human traffickers.
“The Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking Ordinance 2002 and other related laws of the FIA need to be upgraded. This would be helpful to scan all routes leading towards borders of other countries,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 22nd, 2015.