ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration Wing has intercepted four passengers returning from Saudi Arabia for their alleged involvement in an organised international begging ring, an FIA Headquarters spokesperson said on Saturday.
The suspects — Shahnawaz, Shazia Bibi, Sonia and Farzana Bibi, all residents of Islamabad — were flagged by immigration officials during routine checks due to suspicious travel records. Initial investigations revealed that the group had travelled to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas specifically to engage in professional begging.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to being part of a systematic network. They disclosed that an agent, Muhammad Siddiq Akbar, facilitated their travel after charging each individual Rs250,000. In a significant revelation, the accused admitted that the fees paid to the agent were earned through begging during their stay in the kingdom. Following the preliminary probe, the FIA has transferred the suspects to the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC) in Sialkot for further legal proceedings.
Authorities confirmed that they are contacting the Saudi Embassy to coordinate the arrest of the primary agent and dismantle the organised begging network operating between the two countries. The crackdown is part of ongoing efforts by immigration authorities to curb the misuse of pilgrimage visas and protect the country’s reputation abroad.
