Thousands offloaded for begging from Gulf states, Azerbaijan
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) director general informed that 51,000 Pakistanis were offloaded from various countries this year, amid reports of thousands being deported for begging in different parts of the world.
According to details presented on Wednesday, the meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development was held under the chairmanship of Agha Rafiullah.
On this occasion, the FIA DG informed the meeting that Saudi Arabia deported 24,000 individuals for begging, while the United Arab Emirates deported 6,000 Pakistanis on the same charge during the year.
He said that 2,500 Pakistani beggars were deported from Azerbaijan, adding that thousands of individuals were offloaded for begging from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan.
He told the committee that individuals attempting to travel to Europe under the guise of Umrah were offloaded on the basis of evidence.
He said those offloaded possessed documents for travel to Europe despite claiming to be travelling for Umrah.
The FIA Director General maintained that 8.5 million people travelled abroad this year, and 226 cases were registered.
During three months, 450 individuals were apprehended while attempting to cross the Iranian border illegally.
Bangladeshi nationals were apprehended while travelling to Europe on Pakistani tourist visas. On forged documents, 287 individuals were deported last year, while 170 were deported this year.
