Sixteen individuals, including one child, 11 women, and four men, were arrested and offloaded from a Saudi Arabia-bound flight in Pakistan’s Multan area of Punjab province after they confessed to their intention to seek alms in Saudi Arabia. The group had obtained Umrah visas, which are typically used for Islamic pilgrimages to Mecca, but they had disguised themselves as pilgrims while planning to engage in begging activities in Saudi Arabia.
The incident occurred two days ago when immigration authorities questioned the group during their pre-flight procedures. The group openly admitted their purpose was to engage in begging once they arrived in Saudi Arabia.
According to local media reports, the individuals also revealed that a portion of their earnings from begging would be given to the agents responsible for arranging their travel to Saudi Arabia. It was their plan to return to Pakistan once their Umrah visas expired.
Umrah is an Islamic pilgrimage that can be undertaken at any time of the year, unlike the Hajj, which has specific dates in the Islamic calendar.
The group was subsequently deplaned and detained by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Multan circle for further investigation and legal action.
These arrests come shortly after officials from Pakistan’s Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development informed the Senate Committee on Overseas Pakistanis that a significant number of beggars from Pakistan are trafficked abroad through illegal channels. According to the ministry, a startling 90% of beggars apprehended in foreign countries are of Pakistani origin.
Secretary of Overseas Pakistanis Zeeshan Khanzada stated that many Pakistani beggars travel to the Middle East under the pretext of pilgrimage, particularly on Umrah visas, and then engage in begging-related activities once abroad. This revelation sheds light on the role of human trafficking networks in facilitating the movement of individuals for the purpose of begging in foreign countries.
Begging-related activities have been a concern in various parts of the world, and governments and law enforcement agencies are taking measures to combat the issue. In many cases, individuals are exploited and forced into begging by human trafficking networks, and they often face harsh living conditions and exploitation while abroad.
The arrests of the 16 individuals in Pakistan underscore the need for increased vigilance and enforcement to curb human trafficking and begging-related activities, particularly in the context of religious pilgrimages. Authorities in both Pakistan and other countries are working to address these challenges and ensure the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals who may fall victim to such exploitation.
