Another 8 ‘beggars’ travelling to Saudi Arabia on Umrah Visa offloaded at Multan airport: FIA

Another 8 ‘beggars’ traveling to Saudi Arabia on Umrah Visa were offloaded at Multan airport it emerges on Sunday.

As reported, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) late on Saturday night offloaded eight beggars in the disguise of Umrah pilgrims from a KSA-bound flight at Multan airport.

The arrested group comprised five men and three women, who all hailed from Punjab’s Lodhran district.

According to a statement issued by FIA immigration officer Tariq Mehmood, it transpired during the immigration that the group was traveling to Saudi Arabia for the “purpose of begging”.

FIA in a statement said the alleged group of beggars handed over an amount of Rs185,000 to a man namely Mr Javed, who got their visas processed.

“They said they would beg there and half of the begged amount would be handed over to the sub-agent,” the FIA statement said.

“The statements of the group along with their passports were seized and the said passengers were sent to FIA’s Anti Human Trafficking and Smuggling Wing in Multan for further legal action,” it added.

“A case is being registered against the culprits under the Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018,” the FIA added.

The development comes as FIA has launched a crackdown against alleged beggars traveling abroad.

On Friday, FIA arrested 16 alleged beggars in the disguise of Umrah pilgrims attempting to leave for Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas from the same airport.

As reported the 16 suspects arrested were traveling on an Umrah visa from Multan when they were offloaded from a plane.

Director FIA Khalid Anees led an operation to uncover a disturbing trend of exploitation under the pretext of undertaking the sacred Umrah pilgrimage.