16 beggars traveling to Saudi Arabia in guise of Umrah pilgrims arrested

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested sixteen members of a family, who were trying to travel to Saudi Arabia for begging under the guise of Umrah pilgrimage. 

As per the agency officials, the suspects were traveling on an Umrah visa from Multan when they were offloaded from a plane. During interrogation, they revealed that they were going to the kingdom for begging. 

They said three agents had made arrangements for their accommodation in Saudi Arabia as they had agreed to receive a 50 percent share of the total amount to be given by people to the beggars. 

The suspects include 11 women, five men and one child. A case has been registered against all suspects to launch an investigation into the matter. 

The development comes a couple of days after the secretary overseas told a standing committee of the Senate that 90% of beggars arrested abroad are Pakistani nationals.