Black Sheep:Sajjad Bajwa, the former additional director of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), has exposed the presence of unscrupulous individuals within the agency who are providing support to the agent mafia in Pakistan.
Bajwa, who served in the FIA, commented on the dire situation of human trafficking in Pakistan, which has resulted in tragic incidents such as the Greece boat tragedy, where numerous Pakistanis were reported to have lost their lives or gone missing.In his statement, Bajwa revealed that many individuals hold the misconception that their lives would undergo a complete transformation upon reaching Europe. He mentioned that while some people choose to travel by land routes or through Balochistan, Iran, and Turkey, others opt for air routes via Libya to enter Europe.
Undoubtedly, the agent mafia operates with great influence in the Gujrat and Gujranwala divisions. Unfortunately, stringent measures have not been effectively implemented to combat these human traffickers in both regions. Through corruption and alliances with influential individuals, the members of the agent mafia have managed to evade legal repercussions.
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, the former FIA officer openly admitted that the agent mafia has established significant connections in other countries. However, he emphasized that with the determination and commitment to apprehend these human traffickers, they can indeed be arrested and brought to justice.
Black Sheep Unveiled
Bajwa further disclosed a distressing incident involving the murder of an FIA constable at the hands of human traffickers hailing from Gujrat. Shockingly, instead of taking immediate action, certain FIA officers and mafia members shielded the accused agent, obstructing justice.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Bajwa revealed that some FIA officers exerted pressure on the victim’s family, attempting to persuade them to withdraw their legal pursuit against the implicated agent.
Expressing his concern, Bajwa highlighted the presence of corrupt elements within the FIA who support the agent mafia. With thousands of agents operating within Pakistan, he stressed the urgency for authorities to develop a comprehensive strategy to apprehend them.In a proactive recommendation, Sajjad Bajwa urged Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to personally oversee and monitor the actions taken against these human traffickers, emphasizing the need for high-level attention to address this critical issue.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, on Sunday, issued directives to the concerned authorities to initiate an inquiry into the human trafficking incident that resulted in a tragic shipwreck near Greece, claiming the lives of several Pakistani nationals.
In an official statement, the prime minister urged the relevant authorities to take immediate and decisive action against the agents involved in this heinous crime of human trafficking, emphasizing the importance of bringing them to justice.
Expressing his profound grief and sorrow over the loss of Pakistani lives in the devastating incident off the coast of Greece, the PM’s Office Media Wing conveyed the prime minister’s condolences in a press release.
Additionally, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif instructed the officials of the Pakistan embassy in Greece to provide necessary assistance and support to the 12 Pakistanis who were rescued from the scene of the disaster, ensuring their well-being during this difficult time.
In a resolute stance against human trafficking, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif not only emphasized the need for intensified actions but also called for the identification of these unscrupulous individuals who deceive people into undertaking perilous journeys.
In addition to the aforementioned measures, PM Sharif declared Monday (tomorrow) as a day of mourning and established a high-level committee comprising four members to conduct a thorough investigation into the tragic loss of numerous Pakistani lives in the Greece boat tragedy.
The prime minister’s commitment to addressing this issue is evident through his directives for stricter actions, the quest to uncover traffickers, observance of a mourning day, and the establishment of a dedicated committee to delve into the details of the incident and provide comprehensive findings.
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According to the United Nations (UN) human rights office, the distressing news reveals that approximately 500 individuals remain missing following the sinking of a migrant boat off the coast of Greece. Among the tragic loss of 78 lives, there is a significant number of women and children, making this a truly horrific event. The UN spokesperson, Jeremy Laurence, emphasized the urgent need to bring people smugglers, responsible for this calamitous tragedy, to justice.
A media outlet reported that out of the victims, 298 were Pakistanis, with 135 belonging to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) region. Estimates suggest that around 400 Pakistanis were on board the ill-fated vessel. Pakistan’s foreign ministry has confirmed that, regrettably, only 12 individuals out of the 78 survivors were of Pakistani origin.
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The magnitude of this devastating incident, highlighted by the high number of missing individuals and the loss of innocent lives, serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need to address the activities of people smugglers and ensure justice for the victims.