Latest news with #MuhammadMuzammil
Express Tribune
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Two arrested for human trafficking, visa fraud
The FIA (Multan Zone) has arrested two individuals involved in human trafficking and visa fraud as part of its ongoing crackdown on illegal migration networks. The arrests were made during major operations in different parts of the city. According to an FIA spokesperson, the arrested suspects have been identified as Muhammad Muzammil and Sher Khan. Both individuals were allegedly running scams by promising overseas employment to citizens in exchange for large sums of money. Preliminary probe revealed that Muhammad Muzammil tricked a citizen into paying Rs 852,000 by offering a fake job opportunity in Saudi Arabia. Similarly, Sher Khan allegedly defrauded another individual of Rs2 million with a false promise of employment in the UK. Despite taking significant amounts from their victims, the suspects failed to deliver on their promises and later went into hiding. The FIA successfully traced and arrested them from different localities in Multan. Migrant smuggling has grown more frequent and dangerous in the last few years, with the trend impacting the country's reputation. The government, under pressure to act to stop the illegal exodus, had on February 17 passed the "Prevention of Trafficking in Persons (Amendment) Bill, 2025," aimed at amending the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018 and the "Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Bill, 2025," which amends the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act, 2018, from the National Assembly.
Arab News
12 hours ago
- Arab News
Pakistan arrests two for defrauding citizens with fake jobs in Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom
KARACHI: Pakistani authorities have arrested two men accused of human smuggling after they defrauded citizens with false promises of jobs in Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, officials said on Saturday, as the country intensifies its crackdown on trafficking networks following a series of deadly migrant boat disasters. The arrests, made by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Multan, come amid Pakistan's broader campaign to curb human smuggling. The issue has drawn significant attention following recent tragedies in the Mediterranean, including shipwrecks off Greece, Libya and Morocco involving scores of Pakistani nationals. 'The accused, Muhammad Muzammil and Sher Khan, extorted large sums of money from citizens by falsely promising overseas employment opportunities,' the FIA said in a statement. 'Muzammil took Rs852,000 [$2,982] from a victim under the pretense of securing a job in Saudi Arabia, while Sher Khan collected Rs2 million [$7,000] by offering fake employment in the UK,' it continued. 'Both failed to deliver and went into hiding after collecting the money.' The statement noted that the suspects were also involved in visa fraud. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has vowed to crack down on the criminal networks exploiting vulnerable people with false hopes of better lives abroad. His administration began focusing on the issue after more than 200 Pakistanis were presumed dead in a shipwreck off Greece among hundreds of other illegal migrants trying to reach European shores. Earlier this year, over 40 Pakistanis were feared drowned near Morocco's coast, while the International Organization for Migration said at least 60 migrants, including Pakistanis, were feared dead after a pair of shipwrecks off the coast of Libya in June. The FIA said on Saturday that both suspects were arrested from separate locations in Multan and have been taken into custody for further investigation. It added that its crackdown on human smugglers remains ongoing.
