ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said on Sunday it had thwarted an attempt to send citizens abroad illegally and arrested two of its own personnel posted at Islamabad International Airport.
In a statement, the FIA said the action was carried out on the instructions of the director of its Islamabad Zone during a surprise inspection of immigration staff led by Deputy Director (Immigration) Salman Liaquat.
An assistant sub-inspector and a constable were taken into custody while on duty “after they were found using mobile phones,” which immigration staff are prohibited from carrying. Upon searching the devices, investigators recovered “important evidence related to illegal immigration.”
According to the FIA, the initial probe revealed that the two men were in contact with passengers and agents, charging Rs50,000 per person to send citizens to the Philippines and Uzbekistan. Records of transactions worth “millions of rupees” were also retrieved, showing payments routed through microfinance accounts.
The suspects have been booked with the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad, which obtained a three-day physical remand for further investigation.
Just last month, the FIA had suspended an official at the Pak-Afghan Torkham border after a video of him filming passengers, including women, during duty hours went viral, prompting the agency to take disciplinary action.
