GUJRAT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claims to have arrested three passengers who attempted to travel to South Africa on tampered visas.

The passengers -- Tauseef Shahzad, Zafar Iqbal and Sarfraz Ali -- were taken into custody during the course of immigration clearance at Sialkot airport upon their return to Pakistan.

An FIA spokesman said Zafar Iqbal and Sarfraz Ali flew to Saudi Arabia via Dubai to perform Umrah. However, at the Dubai airport they attempted to get boarding pass for travel to South Africa on tempered visas but they were caught and deported to Pakistan.

As per initial investigation by the FIA immigration, these passengers had already worked in South Africa. To be there again, they got their visas tempered through some agents and tried to travel again.

They were handed over to the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell of the Gujranwala FIA.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2024