The Federal Investigation Agency’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle has arrested the head of a private NGO on charges of illegally sending orphaned children abroad under the pretense of running a welfare organization.
The accused, Mubina Qasim, was arrested after her request for pre-arrest bail was denied. The operation followed a formal complaint from the US Consulate General in Karachi.
According to the FIR, Qasim led an NGO called Hope, which is suspected of trafficking at least 23 orphaned children between 2006 and 2015. These children were reportedly placed with families in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and Karachi.
Although the organization claimed to be a welfare group, it was never registered with the Sindh Social Welfare Department. It lacked an authorized shelter for children.
Investigators allege that Qasim used counterfeit documents, including fake guardianship papers and medical records, to facilitate US visa applications for the children. The FIR also notes that many of the children had been abandoned near hospitals and were subsequently placed with families through the NGO’s internal network.
The US Consulate raised concerns with Pakistani authorities after noticing irregularities in adoption cases linked to Hope, prompting the FIA to begin its probe.
With her bail denied, Qasim was taken into custody for further questioning, and officials indicated that additional arrests may follow as the investigation progresses.
The FIR also accuses the NGO of neglect, stating that children in its care were given leftover food and denied adequate shelter, adding to the seriousness of the allegations.
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