KARACHI: Karachi Airport witnessed a significant operation by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) immigration team on Tuesday, resulting in the arrest of two female passengers, Patil Khatoon and Subhana, who were allegedly involved in begging under the pretext of performing Umrah.
Lacking hotel bookings and travel funds, the women’s interrogation raised suspicions about their true intent.
Further investigation linked Subhana’s son, who is currently residing illegally in Saudi Arabia after traveling there on an Umrah visa in 2022, to similar begging activities. Both women have been handed over to Karachi’s Anti-Human Smuggling Circle for more in-depth legal proceedings.
The incident underscores Pakistan’s broader struggle with organized crime, particularly human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
FIA Director General Ahmad Ishaq Jahangir recently addressed these issues at the 12th session of the Conference of the Parties for the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, advocating for a comprehensive strategy to curb these crimes.
In a related effort, last month, FIA stopped Munawar Hussain and Shafia Bibi at Faisalabad Airport. Known for repeated begging trips to Iraq, Iran, and Saudi Arabia, the couple lacked proper documentation and financial proof for their travels.
The growing number of Pakistani beggars in Saudi Arabia has raised concerns among Saudi officials, fearing disruptions to the pilgrimage experience.
In response, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi assured that stringent measures would be implemented to control the misuse of Umrah visas and safeguard Pakistan’s international image.
