FIA arrests seven in south Punjab over visa fraud, human smuggling and embezzlement cases

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested seven suspects in a series of operations across south Punjab in cases related to alleged human smuggling, visa fraud, embezzlement and copyright infringement, according to an FIA spokesperson.

The spokesperson said the raids were conducted in Multan, Lodhran, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur on Tuesday under the directions of FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwar and Multan Zone Director Hammadur Rehman as part of an ongoing campaign against proclaimed offenders and organised crime.

Visa fraud and human smuggling arrests

According to the FIA, the Multan Anti-Human Smuggling Circle arrested Shahbaz in Lodhran. He is accused of involvement in human smuggling and of taking Rs850,000 from a citizen on the promise of arranging a work visa for Saudi Arabia.

In a separate raid in Lodhran, FIA officials arrested Ubaidur Rehman, who, the spokesperson said, allegedly received Rs900,000 for a work visa to Malaysia.

In Dera Ghazi Khan, the agency arrested Tariq, who is accused of taking Rs1000,000 from a person for a Saudi work visa.

In Bahawalpur, FIA officials arrested Riaz Saeedi, who was allegedly involved in taking Rs1750,000 from a citizen for an Umrah visa.

The FIA said the suspects were accused of cheating citizens by offering overseas jobs or religious travel visas that were not provided. Officials said the four suspects together collected more than Rs4.5 million from different victims on the pretext of arranging visas for Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Umrah.

Cases have already been registered against the suspects and further investigation is in progress, the spokesperson said.

Proclaimed offender held in embezzlement case

In another operation, the FIA Multan Composite Circle arrested proclaimed offender Yaseen, who was wanted in what the agency described as a long-pending case involving the alleged embezzlement of Rs9.7 million in the OGDCL Dhodak power plant scandal.

The FIA did not provide further details of the case in the statement, but said the arrest was part of the same wider crackdown being carried out in the region.

Two held in copyright infringement case

Separately, two suspects identified as Sohaib and Usman were arrested in Multan over their alleged involvement in copyright infringement.

According to the FIA spokesperson, counterfeit products of a soap brand were recovered from their possession. The spokesperson said a case was being registered against them.

The FIA said raids were continuing to arrest other suspects allegedly involved in similar offences.

The latest arrests come as the FIA continues operations in different parts of Punjab targeting visa fraud, human smuggling and other organised offences, according to the agency.