ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s investigative agency announced on Monday that after the arrest of five citizens from Mirpurkhas, another five individuals were booked in the cities of Gujranwala and Gujrat Punjab for allegedly working in Israel in violation of the country’s laws.
The agency alleged that these suspects, who are currently residing in Israel, have conducted 188 remittance transactions through the Mirpurkhas Post Office from Israel, bringing the total number of registered cases to 10, including the five arrested in Sindh’s district on July 5.
A report by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) revealed that multiple families in Gujranwala and Gujrat, along with several organizations, have been receiving remittances from Israel.
The FIA sought responses from the central bank and requested transaction records from Israel to Pakistan. The agency recommended the establishment of a joint investigation committee to further probe the matter.
Additionally, those who were booked included the Pakistani-national wife of an Israeli agent. The travel agent’s wife, Ishaq Amanat, has been residing in Israel for four decades and has reportedly facilitated the entry of several Pakistani nationals into Israel.
Pakistani nationals are prohibited from traveling to Israel, according to country laws
Meanwhile, it’s important to note that Pakistani nationals are prohibited from traveling to Israel due to the country’s non-recognition of the State of Israel. The Pakistani passport explicitly states its validity in all countries except Israel.
In July, authorities initiated the operation to apprehend the suspects in Mirpurkhas after tracing a remittance trail and uncovering evidence of their employment in Israel. The arrested suspects were accused of violating Pakistan’s Passport Act 1974 and the Emigration Ordinance 1979.
They had entered Israel with the assistance of an Israeli agent, paying substantial amounts for their passage.
These individuals entered Israel through Jordan using Schengen visas, traveling through Turkey, Kenya, and Sri Lanka to reach Jordan, and subsequently returning to Pakistan via Dubai.
