The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC) Karachi has refunded Rs1.1 million to a citizen who was defrauded in a Canadian immigration case, and has arrested a suspect in a separate human smuggling case involving a Bahrain work visa.
FIA spokesperson said on Sunday that in the first case, a suspected immigration consultant had taken Rs1.1 million from complainant Ajmal Khan, promising to arrange his immigration to Canada.
The money was recovered during the inquiry and investigation and returned to him. The spokesperson said the investigation team took steps to protect the complainant’s interests and that legal proceedings followed the applicable requirements.
In the second case, the AHTC arrested Yaseen Khan under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act, 2018. Preliminary investigations found that he had agreed to arrange a Bahrain work visa for a citizen in return for Rs800,000, and had received Rs520,000 in advance.
The citizen was stopped from travelling after suspicions arose over the visa, and was then referred to the AHTC for investigation.
The FIA said the investigation is continuing to establish the facts and identify others who may have been involved. The agency reiterated that it remains committed to protecting citizens from fraud in the name of overseas employment and immigration, and to taking legal action against those involved in human smuggling.