A photo provided by the Hellenic Coast Guard shows migrants onboard a boat during a rescue operation, before their boat capsized on the open sea, off Greece, June 14, 2023.
Reuters
Charged up to PKR 2.4M from each illegal migrant they helped traffic
Most officers worked at regional airports, with 20 based in Faisalabad
Agency's conviction rate just 30%, with trials often delayed 5-8 years
More than 60 officials from Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have been implicated in human trafficking networks, according to an FIA investigation report submitted to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, yet only 38 have been dismissed from service and none have faced criminal prosecution.
The investigation, which began after the June 14, 2023, tragedy off the Greek coast that claimed more than 286 Pakistani lives, found that FIA officials had facilitated the illegal passage of over 4,000 Pakistanis to Greece since 2023. Records showed that 155 victims of the Greek tragedy had departed from Karachi's Jinnah International Airport.
The implicated officers were stationed across major airports: 20 in Faisalabad, nine each in Sialkot, Quetta, and Peshawar, seven in Lahore, four in Karachi, and three in Islamabad.
The trafficking networks charged exorbitant fees from desperate migrants. In recent cases, traffickers demanded up to PKR 2.4 million per person, with some requiring advances of PKR 250,000 from each traveler. Despite nationwide crackdowns that led to several arrests, including notorious trafficker Imran Hussain who was connected to the Libya boat disaster, the human trafficking crisis persists.
Systemic rot in the FIA
Despite these findings, the absence of meaningful accountability raises serious questions about the government's commitment—and capability—to address human trafficking at its source.
"Administrative action against these FIA officers is insufficient on its own; criminal proceedings are essential. These officials are alleged offenders, and if found guilty, they must face appropriate punishment under the law," Imran Shafiq, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court, told Nukta.
"The FIA has become a corrupt and unreliable institution, plagued by bribery, nepotism, blackmail, false cases, retaliatory actions, shielding of criminals, and flawed and malicious investigations. There is an urgent need to reform and cleanse this institution, which, instead of curbing crime, has become a contributor to its rise in the country," he said.
Criminal charges have not been filed against the implicated FIA officials so far. Multiple attempts were made to contact both the FIA and the Ministry of Interior for an official comment, but no response was received.
A grim pattern of inaction
Sardar Abdul Raziq, Advocate of the Supreme Court, told Nukta that dismissal from service should be accompanied by criminal proceedings when evidence shows involvement in human trafficking. He argued that FIA officers engaged in such activities are guilty of criminal negligence and can also face charges of professional misconduct.
"Legal proceedings under anti-corruption laws, immigration laws, and the Pakistan Penal Code can be initiated if a First Information Report (FIR) is registered against these officials," he added. However, he criticized the FIA's poor performance, particularly in prosecution, which has resulted in an abysmally low conviction rate.
He noted that trials face significant delays, often extending over five to eight years, causing cases to lose their relevance. "When a case becomes ineffective due to such prolonged delays, the likelihood of meaningful punishment diminishes significantly," he said.
FIA's alarming conviction gap
A senior FIA official, speaking to Nukta on condition of anonymity, revealed that the agency's conviction rate stands at a dismal 30 percent, with an alarming 70 percent of cases ending in acquittal.
According to the official, this stems from the combination of prolonged delays and stalled trials, which enables offenders to evade justice, undermining the agency's effectiveness.
The road ahead
In response to the Greece tragedy, the government launched a nationwide crackdown on human trafficking, leading to the arrest of several human traffickers, including Imran Hussain (alias Mani).
During a review meeting on human trafficking last week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for stringent action, emphasizing the need to hold offenders accountable as a deterrent.
A file photo of Pakistan's federal cabinet meeting under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
PPP Media Cell
He also directed the Ministry of Law and Justice to appoint experienced prosecutors and ordered the launch of public awareness campaigns to discourage illegal migration.
*Additional reporting by Laiba Zainab
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