81 human traffickers still at large

LAHORE: Lack of coordination between the Ministry of Interior (MoI) and Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) has ‘helped’ over a dozen Most Wanted Human Traffickers (MWTs) to travel hassle-free from and to Pakistan during the recent past, FIA's official data reveals.

Around 27 MWTs, who have a travel history to and from Pakistan, couldn’t be captured only because of lack of coordination on the part of interior ministry and FIA. The MoI controls the Exit Control List (ECL) and Watch List and the process of putting names on these lists has been made very tough for the last couple of years, commented a senior FIA official, seeking anonymity.

Thankfully, the official said over 67 MWTs have been put on ECL through ministry of interior. Similarly, he said, all the wanted human traffickers have also been blacklisted on the orders of FIA DG, being the competent authority. Free ride of such MWTs from and to Pakistan is over because of these changes, he claimed, adding, before that, no human trafficker was being monitored in such a way.

In the presence of multi-billion Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) and Central Crime Record Office (CCRO), having details of all the FIRs and wanted accused persons, FIA authorities could do more to arrest MWTs even without the help of these stop lists, he claimed.

IBMS, which had replaced Personal Identification Secure Comparison & Evaluation System (PISCES) in 2008, was deployed at various airports in early 2011, including Benazir Bhutto International Airport (BBIA), Islamabad, on Feb 15, 2011, Allama Iqbal International Airport (AIIAP), Lahore, on July 11, 2012, Jinnah International Airport (JIAP), Karachi, on April 10, 2012, and Bacha Khan International Airport, Peshawar on Nov 18, 2011. IBMS is an indigenous system developed by Nadra and has been deployed on 20 sites out of 26, including FIA headquarters entry/exit points.

Such lethargic attitude of the FIA authorities concerned is also adding insult to the injuries to the Pakistani efforts at international level vis-à-vis curbing human trafficking as it has already been facing huge criticism because of weak laws and poor prosecution.

Since 2014, Pakistan has been at the Tier-2 Watch List which means it does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. Department of State of the United States every year ranks each country according to its efforts in dealing with the human trafficking issue.

Quite recently, around 20 innocent people lost their lives while on their way to Europe through land routes via Iran, Turkey and Greece, etc.

In the entire year of 2017, FIA could arrest only 11 out of 92 MWTs. The arrest ratio of the FIA stood at 11.95 percent during the corresponding year. Still 81 MWTs are at large and out of those numbers, 27 MWTs managed to travel without any trouble after they were booked by the FIA in human trafficking. Though FIA managed to arrest over 1,700 human traffickers and land route agents in 2017 but it managed to arrest only 11 MWTs. Out of those 11, nine MWTs have been arrested by FIA Punjab, Lahore Zone alone.

Among the MWTs whose travel details are available, used four major airports of the country to travel, including Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad and Peshawar. Out of 92 MWTs, 10 were booked after they left the country but seemingly no effort was made to bring them back.

Below is the list of 81 MWTs who are still at large and couldn’t be arrested by FIA as yet.

Malik Faisal Rasool Awan of Rawalpindi, number 22 at the Red Book was nominated in FIRs 758/07, 759/07 and 804/07. With a passport number KH-140099, his last travel was reported on May 03, 2014 when he departed for Dubai from JIAP Karachi, seven years after he was booked for human smuggling but no one captured him at the airport.

Malik Zahid of Rawalpindi, number 23, nominated in FIRs 929/07, 934/07 and 933/07 were registered against him. Having passport No BW-0159371, last travel of Malik was reported on March 16, 2008 when he departed for GBR, Bradford from BBIA, Islamabad, a year after he was booked for human smuggling but no one dared to stop him at the airport.

Number 25, Ali Raza Rana of Lahore was nominated in FIRs 579/07 and 578/09. His last travel was reported on Jan 04, 2011 when he departed from Tuftan via road, four years after he was booked by FIA but no one stopped him at the immigration check post.

Number 40, Munawar Iqbal Gondal of Mandi Bahauddin was nominated in FIR 520/08. Having two passports FA1330581 and FA1330583, Gondal travelled last time on Jan 26, 2013 when he departed from AIIAP Lahore to Riyadh. He safely left the country even after five years since he was booked by FIA.

Aqeel Ahmad Abbasi of Rawalpindi was booked under FIR 570/09 with number 42. Having Passport No AL-1017951, his last travel was reported on Feb 22, 2009, when he departed for London, UK on PK-786 from BBIAP, Islamabad, the same year he was booked by FIA. Austrian embassy was the complainant in his case.

At serial number 47, Waqar Ahmed of Attock was booked under FIR 158/12. At a passport number SM-1153262, he last time travelled on Oct 06, 2015 when he arrived at Peshawar Airport from Dubai, three years after he was booked by FIA. But, no one arrested him at the airport and is still at large.

Zafar Iqbal of Sahiwal was booked under FIR 101/11 and mentioned at number 49. He last time travelled on Nov 12, 2012 when he departed from BBIAP Islamabad, a year after he was booked by FIA.

Malik Asim Iqbal of Rawalpindi was booked under FIRs 483/07 and 519/07 and at number 52. Having passport No KD-661967, last time he travelled on June 13, 2007 when he departed through Taftan land border to Mirjaveh, visa on possessing French Sejour No F953086311, issued on 22.01.2006 and valid until 21.01.2007 with Saint Tanis, Paris as temporary resident. He travelled the same year when he was booked by the FIA.

Minister for Interior Ahsan Iqbal was also approached through text messages and calls but he didn’t respond until the filing of this report.