FIA arrest nine suspects linked to Greece boat tragedy

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) has arrested nine accused for human smuggling, linked to the recent boat tragedy off Greece, the FIA Spokesperson said on Monday.

The accused, arrested from different areas of Gujranwala and Gujarat, were involved in the recent Greece and Libya boat accidents, where more than 40 Pakistani nationals died.

The accused were identified as Muhammad Shafiq, Azmat Ali, Khizr Hayat, Mirza Sikandar, Muhammad Nawaz, Shahid Amin, Shahzad Yousaf, Zafar Iqbal, and Asad Abbas.

As per officials, on the instructions of DG FIA Ahmed Ishaq Jahangir, the FIA Gujranwala Zone arrested a notorious human trafficker, Zafar Iqbal, involved in kidnapping children and smuggling them abroad.

The accused was arrested from Mandi Bahauddin. Zafar Iqbal was a member of an international gang involved in human trafficking, the FIA spokesperson said. He took Rs1.9 million and €2,300 on the pretext of sending a minor child to Italy via Libya.

Another suspect Shahzad Yousuf, involved in the Libyan boat capsizing accident, was arrested from Kharian. The accused took Rs2.3 million from the citizen to send him to Italy via Libya for employment.

According to the FIA statement, the accused, Muhammad Shafiq and Khizr Hayat took Rs4 million each on the pretext of sending the victim citizens to Greece illegally.

The FIA Gujranwala arrested suspect Azmat Ali, who extorted Rs5 million from a victim of a boat tragedy by promising him a job in Greece.

Accused Mirza Sikandar received Rs5 million to send two brothers to Europe for employment, the FIA spokesperson said.

Furthermore, Muhammad Nawaz received more than Rs1 million to send the citizen to Cambodia for employment. Accused Shahid Amin extorted Rs1.7 million to send the citizen to Italy for employment.

Another arrested human smuggler Asad Abbas took Rs2 million to send the affected citizen to Greece.

The Director FIA Gujranwala Zone Abdul Qadir Qamar said that raids are being conducted to arrest other accused involved in the Greece boat accident.

Abdul Qadir affirmed that the accused will be given the death penalty in the light of solid evidence.