Pakistan has dismissed 51 Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officers over the past three years for colluding with human smugglers, according to an Interior Ministry report.
The dismissals are part of a broader crackdown on human trafficking networks that have led to the deaths of hundreds of Pakistani migrants trying to reach Europe.
The report highlights the increasing role of FIA officials in facilitating illegal migration, particularly after the boat tragedy in Greek waters in June 2023, where hundreds of Pakistanis were among the dead.
Following the incident, authorities arrested 27 FIA officials and registered cases in Gujranwala, Faisalabad, and Quetta zones.
According to the report, 41 FIA officers were dismissed in 2024, the highest number in three years, while six were fired in 2022 and four in 2023. Among those dismissed were 11 female officers, including seven posted at Karachi Airport, who were found guilty of aiding human smugglers.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the FIA established a Personnel and Internal Accountability Branch (PIAB) under the HR Directorate in Islamabad to strengthen internal oversight.
The branch is responsible for initiating departmental actions upon receiving complaints against staff, while criminal proceedings are carried out by zonal offices based on tangible evidence.
The ministry's report also detailed that 110 departmental inquiries have been launched against FIA officials over the past three years. Of these, 48 officials were dismissed, two were forced into retirement, and 13 were handed minor penalties. The remaining inquiries are ongoing.
Human rights organizations have long criticized Pakistan's failure to curb human trafficking, calling for stricter enforcement and greater transparency. The latest actions signal a tougher stance by the government, but analysts say more reforms are needed to dismantle the smuggling networks.
Comments
See what people are discussing