FIA arrests Karachi smuggler linked to Indian agent in trafficking plot Blogging Sole

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Friday announced the arrest of Abdul Shakoor, a Karachi-based human smuggler, accusing him of collaborating with an Indian agent to illegally send people to Europe.

The arrest is part of a broader government crackdown on human trafficking, following a series of recent tragedies involving Pakistani migrants.

The FIA ​​confirmed that Shakoor was working with Gautam Sharma, an Indian national based in Azerbaijan. Sharma coordinated the illegal movement of migrants from Azerbaijan to Poland. In connection with Shakoor, three other suspects – Hasib Ahmed, Qaiser Ahmed and Usman Ali, all from Punjab province – were also arrested.

According to the FIA, Shakoor charged $5,028.89 per person for transportation to Poland, with each migrant paying an advance of $898.02. The agency also named organizations that facilitated the visa process for these migrants.

The latest arrest follows the death of five Pakistani nationals in a boat capsizing near the Greek island of Gavdos earlier this month, reigniting concerns about the dangers of illegal immigration.

The issue gained national attention last year after the fatal capsize of a ship off the coast of Greece, where hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned during a perilous journey from Libya.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday chaired a meeting to review the country’s efforts to combat human trafficking.

He discussed the findings of a commission investigating the recent boat tragedy near Greece and called for the creation of a new task force, led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, to develop long-term solutions to the problem of human trafficking.

Prime Minister Shehbaz ordered authorities to arrest all those involved in human trafficking within a week and take immediate legal action.

He also raised concerns about the lack of disciplinary action against government officials suspected of aiding smugglers and stressed the need for stricter visa checks and travel regulations for all outgoing migrants. .

The meeting also provided an opportunity to take stock of the identification of Pakistani nationals involved in the Greek boat tragedy and the ongoing process of repatriating their bodies.