THREE people have moved an application in FIA against a travel agent on sending them to Libya by showing them sweet dreams, which resulted in a huge monetary loss and mental trauma to them.

They demanded stern action against the persons responsible.

Complainants Syed Faizan Haider Bukhari (passport number BW3343151), Sultan Ahad Qazalbash (passport number AA4805031) and Zubair Maan (passport number AP0795571) have filed an application with the office of Director Crimes FIA, Islamabad. The complainants were of the view that the agent named Rana Amjad, how is owner of a travel agency, had assured them that he would get them settled in Libya, where a company would arrange an employment worth Rs 150,000 each, including accommodation and two years valid work visa against which he charged Rs 350,000 per person, total amount Rs 1,050,000.

They added that being naive and innocent they trusted the agent and gave him the money and, in return, he got their 90-day visa processed from the respective embassy to prove that he was genuine in his commitment. The agent told them that upon arrival in Libya, his colleague agent would receive them and guide them accordingly.

The complainants said that upon reaching Tripoli airport in Libya, they waited for nine long hours but no agent showed up. Further to their surprise, they had been informed by the airport authorities that their visa was expiring in the next three days. The complainants claimed that they tried to contact Rana Amjad in Pakistan but his phone never responded after it. “We had been taken in custody by the airport security staff and went through a series of humiliating and embarrassing situations beyond imagination,” the complainants said.

To a question as to how they got trapped, one of the complainants said that Sultan Ahad was introduced to Rana Amjad through Shahbaz Naqvi, a relative of the complainants, who has a shop in the same plaza where Rana has his office. The first meeting took place in Shahbaz’s friend’s office situated at Township where, upon confirmation of Rana that he would arrange employment worth Rs 150,000, Sultan Ahad paid Rs 250,000 through Shahbaz to Rana, transferred into his account on February 20, 2012. Later, the remaining Rs 100,000 had been again transferred into Rana’s bank account by Shahbaz.

The application reads that Faizan Haider had also been introduced to Rana through Shahbaz where Faizan’s mother Ms Zahida Shabbar Bukhari along with Faizan and Shahbaz met Rana in his office and paid Rs 450,000 in cash. Zubair Maan, the third complainant, had also made the payment of Rs 250,000 through Shahbaz, who transferred the payment into Rana’s account on February 23, 2012.

The victims were of the view that the fraudulent conduct of Rana Amjad not only brought disgrace and embarrassment to them but also to the country.

Later, through some personal contacts here in Pakistan, they had managed to coordinate their return through involvement of a local company in Libya, which otherwise seemed impossible, the complainants said.

The complainants have appealed to the FIA crimes director that strict action should be taken against fraudulent agent Rana Amjad and his travel agency. They added that the registration of the travel company must be cancelled and the agent should be arrested. They also appealed for the recovery of their money.

Talking to The News on phone, the agent, Rana Amjad, however, denied all of the allegations of complainants saying that he did not know any of them. He added that Shahbaz Naqvi, who was his (Rana’s) employee, had fraudulently minted money from the complainants and many others on his letter pad illegally. He said that he on knowing Shahbaz’s illegal act had fired him from the office.To a question that the amount was transferred to his (Rana’s) account, Amjad said that the amount was transferred by Shahbaz for air tickets, which was a routine matter. Rana Amjad also said that he would face the allegations at FIA office to make his stance clear.

Rana Amjad said people were sent abroad through a proper recruiting process but Shahbaz had sent many persons through fake channel.