The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) intercepted three women attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia under the pretense of performing Umrah. The incident occurred on Sunday at Karachi airport, as reported by ARY News.
An FIA spokesperson stated that the women were detained by the agency’s immigration team during routine checks. Investigations revealed that the individuals lacked essential travel documents, including return tickets and hotel reservations, raising suspicions about their true intentions.
Authorities noted that these women had previously been prevented from traveling at Lahore airport under similar circumstances. Following their detention, they were handed over to the FIA’s Anti-Smuggling Circle for further investigation.
Earlier Similar Incident in Multan
This case follows a previous operation in which the FIA intercepted 24 individuals at Multan airport attempting to board a Saudi Arabia-bound flight. During questioning, these passengers admitted they were traveling with the intent of soliciting alms rather than performing religious obligations.
Concerns Over Human Trafficking
The arrests come amid heightened scrutiny of illegal trafficking networks. The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development recently informed the Senate Committee on Overseas Pakistanis about the alarming use of illicit channels to traffic individuals abroad, many of whom are later forced into begging.
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