ISLAMABAD: In a shocking revelation, the Interior Ministry informed the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Human Rights that approximately 10,000 Pakistanis are currently stranded in the forests of Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma), victims of sophisticated human trafficking networks.
These individuals, lured by false promises of employment and a better life, are reportedly being coerced into illegal logging, forced agricultural labor, and drug trafficking. The briefing, delivered by an additional secretary from the Interior Ministry, cited intelligence received from Pakistani diplomatic missions in Kuala Lumpur.
Chaired by Sahibzada Hamid Raza, the committee demanded detailed reports from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior in the next session to better understand the scope of the crisis and plan a coordinated response.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also presented a comprehensive update on anti-trafficking efforts. Additional Director General Abbas Ahsan disclosed that three major boat accidents involving illegal migrants have occurred this year. He further revealed that 12 FIA officers have been implicated in trafficking-related negligence, with departmental action initiated against four senior (Grade-20) officers.
“We’ve frozen agents’ bank accounts amounting to over Rs720 million—many held under the names of family members,” said Ahsan. “Over 24,000 individuals have been offloaded at airports as part of preventive efforts, and we are now working closely with the European Union and other international partners to dismantle trafficking networks.”
Ahsan also addressed disturbing reports from Greece, where Pakistani human smugglers allegedly murdered victims unable to pay additional extortion fees.
Separately, PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat raised the issue of a recent drone strike in North Waziristan, which killed three people. He informed the committee that local residents continue to protest with the victims’ bodies, demanding justice. “We must provide redress to these grieving families,” he urged.
In response, the committee formed a four-member sub-committee—comprising Shahida Rahmani, Sher Afzal Marwat, Ali Muhammad Khan, and Zeb Jafar—to visit the affected area and prepare a detailed report.
On a societal note, Chairman Hamid Raza voiced concern over the negative influence of social media, particularly videos showcasing extravagant weddings and ostentatious displays of wealth by overseas Pakistanis.
“We cannot regulate social media content,” he noted. “But these viral clips, where foreign-based Pakistanis shower dollars and pounds at weddings, are spreading disillusionment among the public. When a 20-year-old claims he earns Rs200 million without explaining how, it sends a harmful message to our youth.”
The committee’s discussions underscored the urgent need for coordinated national and international action to combat human trafficking and address the broader social challenges amplified by digital platforms.
