Four suspected human traffickers linked to Turbat killings arrested in Punjab

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has taken into custody suspected human smuggling agents from various districts of Punjab following identification from families of people killed in Balochistan recently.

Fifteen bullet-riddled bodies were discovered by security officials in Balochistan’s Kech district on Wednesday morning. According to official reports, the victims belonged to various areas of Punjab.

The deceased men were allegedly deceived by human traffickers into being taken to Europe through Iran after payment of the ‘fees’.

The FIA arrested Tanveer from Sambrial town in Sialkot on the identification of families of Zafar and Ghafoor, who were killed in the incident.

Two more agents, Zafar Iqbal and Haider, were arrested after identification by the families of Ghulam Rabbani and Zulfiqar.

Another accused, Waheed Khan has also been arrested from Gujrat. He was also involved in sending the deceased to Balochistan.

Condemning the act, Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the elements that killed the innocent people deserved no leniency and vowed that those involved in human-trafficking would be taken to task. He also stated that police would eliminate such fake travel agents in partnership with the FIA and both Punjab and federal governments would collectively curb this menace.

The Punjab chief minister also announced financial aid for the heirs of those killed in Turbat area of Balochistan. The Punjab government will provide Rs 1 million per head to the heirs of those killed in the incident.