The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport arrested three Afghan women attempting to travel to Germany using forged medical and business documents. The women, identified as Aziza Mohammadi, Mehria Rehmani, and Zahra Sultani, were stopped by FIA immigration officers during a routine check before boarding their flight.
Details of the Arrest
Aziza Mohammadi, who entered Pakistan on a medical visa, presented documents claiming she had been treated at a hospital in Islamabad from April 27 to May 20, 2024. However, upon investigation, it was revealed that Aziza had never visited Pakistan for medical treatment, raising immediate suspicion about the authenticity of her documents.
Read More: Airport Screening Failures Spark Concern Amid Rising Mpox Cases in Pakistan
Similarly, Mehria Rehmani entered the country on a business visa and provided papers indicating she was traveling with her spouse, Iqbal Hakimi. During questioning, Mehria denied being married and stated that she had no knowledge of anyone named Iqbal Hakimi. This inconsistency further confirmed the fraudulent nature of her documentation.
Zahra Sultani, the third woman apprehended, arrived in Pakistan on September 2, claiming to be accompanying a patient named Marman Parveen as her attendant. Upon further investigation, it was discovered that Zahra had obtained a Pakistani visa by posing as the patient’s caretaker. Her visa application was found to be deceptive, as she was not genuinely associated with any patient.
Legal Action and Investigation
Following their arrest, the three women were handed over to the FIA’s anti-human trafficking circle, where a case was registered against them. The FIA officials confirmed that further legal action would be taken after the completion of the investigation. Authorities suspect these women may be part of a broader ring that facilitates illegal immigration using forged documents.
Read More: Man arrested at Karachi airport with 47 illegal visas
This incident is not isolated, as Karachi’s airport has witnessed a rising trend of foreigners attempting to use Pakistan as a transit point for illegal immigration. Recently, the FIA arrested nine other foreign nationals who were attempting to travel abroad using counterfeit documents. The FIA has intensified its efforts to curtail human trafficking and illegal immigration attempts, reinforcing checks at airports across the country.