Key Takeaways
- At least 64 deportees from Libya, mostly from Gujranwala region, have been convicted by local courts.
- The convictions followed a summary trial and resulted in fines of Rs25,000-50,000 each.
- FIA has expanded its operations to combat illegal immigration in central Punjab districts.
At least 64 deportees from Libya have been convicted by local courts in three districts of Punjab after a summary trial. The convictions were based on cases lodged against them by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and resulted in fines ranging from Rs25,000 to Rs50,000 each.
The FIA's Gujranwala Zone Director, Muhammad Bin Ashraf, informed Dawn that the agency has placed these deportees on Pakistan’s passport control list, preventing them from traveling abroad for at least five years. This measure is part of a broader effort by the FIA to combat illegal immigration and human trafficking networks in the region.
The convictions come as a result of 200 illegal Pakistani immigrants being captured by Libyan authorities during their attempt to board boats heading towards Italy. These individuals were detained for about two weeks before being repatriated through special flights arranged with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
Of the 200 deportees, at least 90 were from the Gujranwala region, where FIA circles in Gujranwala, Gujrat, and Sialkot districts lodged cases against them. The summary trials of the remaining 26 deportees are ongoing, with decisions expected within a few days.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi discussed efforts to curb illegal immigration during separate meetings this week with his Chinese and Sri Lankan counterparts. These discussions underscore the government's commitment to addressing the issue on both regional and international levels.
The FIA has expanded its operations in central Punjab districts, opening circles or police stations in Sialkot and a sub-circle in Mandi Bahauddin. This expansion is aimed at tackling illegal human trafficking networks that have been active in these areas for years.
According to official sources, so far, a sum of about Rs1.05 million has been received as fines from the convicted deportees. Between January 1 and July 8, courts had awarded up to 22 years of imprisonment and imposed fines totalling Rs13.7m in illegal human trafficking and immigration cases.
The FIA's efforts have led to a record ratio of convictions during the last six months, with 172 people convicted by the courts in this period.
