A passenger was apprehended at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi while attempting to travel abroad with a large cache of illegal visas stored on his mobile phone. The arrest has raised concerns about the growing issue of human trafficking and illegal immigration in the region.
Discovery at the Airport
The suspect, identified as Aliyan Zaman, a resident of Attock, was set to board a flight to Malaysia on a visit visa when he was detained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) immigration officials. During a routine check, the authorities discovered over 47 visas on Zaman’s mobile device, including those for Cyprus and Cambodia. The visas were allegedly intended for Pakistani and Bangladeshi nationals, indicating a possible illegal immigration operation.
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Illegal Immigration Scheme Uncovered
According to FIA sources, Zaman’s travel to Malaysia was just the first step in a larger plan to reach the United Kingdom. The suspect had already paid PKR 400,000 to an agent, with a total amount of PKR 2.8 million agreed upon for the illegal journey. The payments were made in both cash and through microfinance accounts, suggesting a sophisticated network facilitating illegal immigration. The discovery of multiple visas, including a Cambodian visa, further deepened suspicions of a larger network at play.
FIA Investigation Ongoing
Failing to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the presence of these visas, Zaman was handed over to the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (HTC) in Karachi for further investigation. The authorities are now focused on uncovering the broader network that may be involved in this illegal immigration scheme.
Broader Implications
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in combating human trafficking and illegal immigration in the region. The FIA has been stepping up efforts to crack down on such operations, but the discovery of such a large cache of illegal visas suggests that there are still substantial networks operating to facilitate these crimes.
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Earlier in June, another passenger was caught smuggling 5.7 kg of hashish at the same airport, underlining the growing complexity of the challenges faced by law enforcement at Pakistan’s major airports.