Special committees to identify FIA officials involved in human smuggling

Islamabad:Director General FIA Ahmed Ishaq Jahangir has said that the FIA officials involved in boat tragedies, would not be spared, The DG, speaking to the orderly room held to get the performance of combating human smuggling with the involvement of FIA officials deployed at different international airport in the country.

“Special committees have been constituted to mark the FIA officials involved in the human smuggling crime,” the DG warned, adding that the black sheep would be illuminated from FIA, causing bad name for the department.

During the session, departmental actions against officials involved in last month's boat accident were reviewed, a spokesman of FIA said. In connection with the 2024 Greece boat accident, disciplinary actions have been taken, resulting in the dismissal of FIA official including one inspector, 2 sub-inspectors, 2 head constables, and 8 constables from their jobs, the spokesman maintained, adding, additionally, the promotions of three constables were halted. The penalised officials were stationed at Faisalabad Airport, he added.

Previous disciplinary actions was taken against the FIA officials involved in helping human smuggling mafia, 37 officials involved in similar boat accidents had also been dismissed. The FIA continues to emphasise a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption and negligence, aiming to protect innocent citizens and eliminate human trafficking effectively, the spokesman said.

FIA Gujranwala Zone has conducted significant operations under the directives of DG FIA Ahmed Ishaq Jahangir, tightening the noose around elements involved in human trafficking and arrested suspects identified as Imran Haider and Farrukh Mushtaq who were involved in visa fraud and human trafficking, the spokesman maintained, adding, they were arrested during a raid in Kamoke.

The suspects deceived a citizen by promising to send them to Canada, extorting Rs900,000 in the process, after failing to fulfill their promise, the suspects went into hiding but were later apprehended.

FIA's Islamabad Anti-Human Trafficking Circle, during a crackdown arrested suspect, Zohaib Ali, involved in visa fraud and human trafficking, has been arrested. The suspect deceived citizens by promising to send them abroad and extorted millions of rupees. The FIA reiterates its commitment to eliminating human trafficking and bringing perpetrators to justice through rigorous operations and a zero-tolerance policy, the spokesman concluded.