Daily Times

Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Gujranwala Zone claimed on Wednesday to have arrested four criminals including a notorious human trafficker for their alleged involvement in Libya boat tragedy.

According to FIA spokesperson, the suspects- Imran Hussain aka Mani, Muhammad Ijaz, Imran Saqib and Rizwan Khadim, involved in illegally sending innocent citizens abroad were arrested from various parts of Gujranwala and Gujrat.

Imran Hussain aka Mani, a key figure in the Libya boat tragedy, had been listed among the most wanted human traffickers in the FIA’s Red Book. He was a member of an international human trafficking syndicate, with six cases registered against him at the Composite Circle Gujrat.

The spokesperson added that Imran extorted Rs 2.4 million from each of six victims of the Libya boat tragedy. He sent them from Pakistan to Egypt, Dubai, and then Libya on visit visas. In Libya, the victims were held in safe houses before being sent to Europe by boat. Tragically, all the victims perished in the boat accident.

Another trafficker Muhammad Ijaz extorted 900 Euros and Rs 900,000 from a citizen by promising a job in Italy. Imran Saqib received Rs 3.7 million from the complainant, promising jobs in Germany for the victim’s sons, but instead he sent them to Saudi Arabia.

In Saudi Arabia, the victims were subjected to torture, and the traffickers continued to demand huge amount of money. Rizwan Khadim, another trafficker extorted Rs 2.7 million from a victim to send him to Spain for employment but failed to fulfill the promise. He then went into hiding after taking the money.

The arrested individuals are under investigation.

Raids were being conducted to arrest other suspects involved in the racket, he added.

Director Gujranwala Zone Abdul Qadir Qamar said that all available resources were being utilized to apprehend the suspects.