FIA arrests six more involved in 'trafficking' boat tragedy victims.

GUJRAT -- The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claims to have arrested at least six more 'human traffickers' involved in illegally sending people to Libya, who later died in a boat accident there.

So far 10 alleged human traffickers, mainly belonging to various parts of Gujrat district, have been arrested by the FIA after registration of cases against them.

Gujrat FIA Deputy Director Ghulam Sarwar Warraich told Dawn that a goldsmith, Saeed Ilyas of Gujrat city, Obaidullah of Mararrian, Manshaullah of Bojhpur, Hasham of Kharian and two others had been arrested in connection with the cases lodged against them.

He said that two main suspects -- Hamza Saeed and Afaq -- living in Libya, had been 'handlers' of the human traffickers, and efforts were being made to repatriate them through legal process.

Mr Warraich said the arrested traffickers were being investigated by the FIA officials as they had received around Rs2 million from the families of the boat tragedy victims to send them Europe illegally.

Official sources said that so far bodies of 14 victims; eight of them belonging to Gujrat, two from Bhimbher district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and one each from Gujjar Khan and Muridke, had...

To continue reading

Request your trial

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT