Daily Times

KARACHI: Federal Investigation Agency’s Anti Human Trafficking Circle Karachi has launched an investigation against two travel agencies for defrauding over 400 Hajjaj for their money in the millions.

Officials of FIA ACC Karachi has arrested two persons Saad and Jhangir who were working as sub-agents for the main accused Haji Naeem and Shabir belonging to Al-Ebad travel agency. Two separate cases were registered against the arrested persons and the nominated accused who are on the run in the newly emerged “Hajj Scam”

“The matter was started some days ago when dozens of Hajj applicants staged a protest against a travel agency “Al-Mashriq” as the owner and administration of the company took millions of rupees and passports from people to send them for Hajj but failed to do so” an official told Daily Times. The issue was reported in FIA by Ministry of Religious affair and victims and high ups in Islamabad Head Quarters directed FIA to probe into the matter thoroughly. “We started an investigation in this regard and took the relevant record form the office of Al-Mashriq travel agency and it revealed that Saad and Jahangir were working as sub agents in the company and they took over Rs 80 million form nearly 400 applicants for hajj packages, as sub agents they were not eligible to collect money and passport but they did that illegal activity on the behalf of Al-Ebad travel agency, a licensed company who have a hajj quota” officials further informed.

FIA officials have ceased the bank accounts of both involved travel companies and sent written recommendation to cancel their license. “As the sub agents, they have not only acted illegally but they have deprived hundreds of people of performing Hajj but we are after the Haji Naeem and Shabir the main accused and agents of Al-Ebad travel agency to make sure of the return of compensation for victims,” official added.

Published in Daily Times, August 22^nd 2017.