According to a statement released by the FIA, the operation was executed on the instructions of the Director of the agency’s Islamabad Zone during a surprise inspection of the immigration staff, overseen by Deputy Director (Immigration) Salman Liaquat.
The statement detailed that an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) and a constable were detained while on duty after they were “found using mobile phones,” which is strictly prohibited for immigration staff while serving.
Upon searching their phones based on suspicion, “important evidence related to illegal immigration” was recovered.
The FIA reported that initial investigation revealed the two men were “in contact with passengers and agents” and were “charging Rs50,000 per person to send citizens to the Philippines and Uzbekistan.”
The statement further indicated that records of transactions amounting to “millions of rupees were recovered from the suspects’ mobile phones,” and the pair was utilizing “microfinance accounts to receive payments.”
A case has been registered with the FIA Anti-Corruption Circle in Islamabad, and a three-day physical remand of the suspects has been obtained.
Context: Previous Incident at Torkham Border
Last month, the FIA took notice of the videotaping of passengers, primarily female migrants, at the Pak-Afghan border crossing Torkham.
A video went viral on social media, prompting the agency to act against the FIA official who was recorded filming passengers and showing negligence during duty at the border.
A statement confirmed that the DG FIA had sought a detailed report of the incident from the Director FIA Peshawar Zone, and the official involved had been immediately suspended.
