FAISALABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested the main accused involved in an alleged human trafficking plot involving a minor girl, officials said on Monday.
FIA action in Faisalabad resulted in the arrest of Qari Zahid, also known as Qari Mujahid, after the agency’s investigation allegedly linked him to efforts to transfer a minor abroad.
Minor girl Hira Firdous stopped at Faisalabad airport
Officials said an alleged attempt to send 13-year-old Hira Firdous to Saudi Arabia on an Umrah visa was foiled when the girl was stopped during immigration checking at Faisalabad airport over suspicious documentation.
During initial scrutiny, authorities said a marriage certificate produced along with the minor girl was found to be fake. Investigators added that the early inquiry indicated the girl was allegedly married online.
Documents prepared with agent’s help
FIA officials stated that documents prepared for transferring the minor girl abroad—apparently with the assistance of an agent—were recovered and examined during the investigation. The arrest followed as the role of the accused came under scrutiny.
Case registered against multiple accused
After the investigation, the FIA registered a case against Qari Zahid (alias Qari Mujahid), Nikah Khawan Hafiz Anis, and a Saudi Arabia resident, Fayyaz, in connection with the alleged human trafficking.
The accused have been booked under sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018.
FIA said further investigation is ongoing to identify and arrest other alleged facilitators involved in the human trafficking network.
