Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday directed the FIA Immigration Wing to launch an effective crackdown against professional begging networks and the people facilitating them, stressing that no leniency would be shown toward those tarnishing Pakistan’s reputation.Chairing a high-level meeting in Islamabad, Mohsin Naqvi reviewed the performance of the FIA’s Immigration Wing and assessed ongoing efforts to curb illegal immigration and human trafficking.

Mohsin Naqvi directed to continue strict and indiscriminate action against mafias involved in illegal immigration. He said those involved in human smuggling deserve no leniency.Mohsin Naqvi instructed the FIA to ensure the effective enforcement of immigration laws and stressed that the airport immigration checking system should be further strengthened. The interior minister said that those involved in trafficking “deserve no concession” and emphasised that Pakistan’s name “cannot be allowed to be disgraced under any circumstances.” 

The minister instructed the FIA to ensure strict enforcement of immigration laws and ordered that immigration checks at airports be strengthened, with enhanced screening of travel documents. The meeting was attended by the federal interior secretary, the additional interior secretary, the FIA director general, and zonal directors from Karachi and Lahore. Naqvi’s directives come months after he assured Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Saeed Ahmed Al-Maliki of decisive action against professional Pakistani beggars travelling to Saudi Arabia. 

During his visit to the Saudi Embassy last August, he told the ambassador that the mafia sending beggars abroad was damaging Pakistan’s international image. The interior minister said the FIA had already been instructed to launch a nationwide crackdown against these organised groups. In a second visit to the Saudi Embassy in the same month, Naqvi held follow-up discussions on the issue and informed the ambassador that a full-scale operation was underway against the begging mafia, adding that a zero-tolerance policy had been adopted.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)