Islamabad:The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC) has apprehended the primary suspect behind the "Times Immigration" scandal, a scheme described by authorities as one of the largest immigration frauds in the history of the federal capital.
The suspect, identified as M. Jahanzaib, was arrested in Lahore following a coordinated intelligence-based operation. According to FIA officials, Jahanzaib had been operating under the alias Junaid Butt to evade detection.
The investigation reveals that the "Times Immigration" network defrauded thousands of citizens by promising student, work, and family visas for various international destinations. The group maintained high-profile offices in Islamabad’s G-11 Markaz and Giga Mall, as well as Lahore’s Liberty Market, with operational footprints extending to the United Arab Emirates.
Financial probes have uncovered a complex web of transactions totaling approximately Rs250 million. Investigators traced the funds to numerous bank accounts, including several registered in the former FATA region, which are currently being scrutinized for potential money laundering and other financial crimes.
Authorities allege that the proceeds from the scam were used to acquire multiple properties registered in the names of the suspect’s two wives, one of whom is identified as Lahore-based stage actress Kaneez Fatima, also known as Deedar Multani.
The arrest was the result of technical surveillance and inter-agency cooperation led by Inspector Abdullah Kiani and Additional Director Nadeem Zafar, under the supervision of Director FIA Islamabad Shahzad Nadeem Bukhari, with additional support from the FIA Lahore Zone.
During the proceedings, it was further disclosed that the suspect is also the subject of a separate inquiry in Lahore. He is accused of operating another fraudulent firm, "International Visa Consultant (IVC)," at Empire Mall under the pseudonym Mian Zohaib.
The FIA has issued a public appeal for any citizens defrauded by this specific entity to contact the FIA Lahore Zone to assist in the ongoing prosecution. FIA officials characterised the breakthrough as a major success in the crackdown on human trafficking and organized immigration crime. Further investigations are currently underway to dismantle the remaining network, and authorities have indicated that additional arrests are expected as the financial trail is followed.
