MULTAN: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Multan Zone has successfully arrested nine individuals, including proclaimed offenders, who were involved in human trafficking and visa fraud schemes.
The arrests took place across various areas of Multan and Bahawalpur, as the suspects were allegedly extorting large sums of money from citizens under the false pretext of offering overseas employment opportunities.
According to an FIA spokesperson, the arrested individuals have been identified as Ghaus Bakhsh, Atta-ul-Hassan, Muhammad Shoukat, Muhammad Waqas, Usama Ashraf, Muhammad Din Muhammad, Manu Ram, Azhar Iqbal, and Mulazim Hussain. They are accused of promising jobs in various countries, including Saudi Arabia, Dubai, and the UAE, and taking substantial amounts of money from victims without fulfilling the promises.
Ghaus Bakhsh is alleged to have extorted Rs 800,000 from a citizen by offering a job in Saudi Arabia, while Muhammad Shoukat, a proclaimed offender since 2023, fraudulently collected Rs 500,000 for a fake Dubai employment visa. Atta-ul-Hassan allegedly extorted Rs 180,000, and Mulazim Hussain took over Rs 2 million under similar pretenses.
Other suspects include Muhammad Waqas, who took Rs 1.3 million, and Usama Ashraf, who collected Rs 563,000, both promising employment in Saudi Arabia. Muhammad Din Muhammad is accused of taking Rs 200,000 for an Umrah visa, while Manu Ram allegedly extorted Rs 900,000 for a UAE visa. Azhar Iqbal is reported to have collected Rs 700,000 by promising employment abroad.
After receiving the money from their victims, the accused fled and went into hiding, failing to deliver on their commitments. The FIA spokesperson confirmed that all suspects are now in custody, and investigations are ongoing. The agency has vowed to take strict action against all those involved in such fraudulent activities.
