The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Human Rights was given a grim briefing on human trafficking on Tuesday, revealing that around 10,000 Pakistanis are currently trapped in the forests of Cambodia and Burma.
These victims of organized human trafficking networks are reportedly being forced into illegal logging, agricultural labour, and drug trafficking.
Chaired by Sahibzada Hamid Raza, the committee session was informed by the additional secretary of the Interior Ministry that this information had been received from Pakistani missions in Kuala Lumpur. The committee has now demanded a comprehensive report from both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior in the upcoming meeting.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) also briefed the committee on human trafficking, disclosing alarming details about ongoing efforts to curb this practice. According to FIA Additional DG Abbas Ahsan, three major boat accidents involving illegal migrants occurred this year, and 12 FIA officers have been booked in connection with trafficking lapses, with departmental action taken against four Grade-20 officers.
“We have frozen agents' bank accounts worth over Rs720 million, many of which were held in the names of relatives,” the FIA official stated. He added that the agency has offloaded over 24,000 people in preventive measures and is now in active contact with the European Union and other international partners to clamp down on these criminal networks.
The committee also discussed disturbing reports from Greece, where the FIA said Pakistani human traffickers allegedly kill victims who fail to pay additional money.
Separately, PTI MNA Sher Afzal Marwat raised the issue of a recent drone strike in North Waziristan, which resulted in the death of three people. He said that locals are still protesting with the bodies, demanding justice. "We should do something to provide redress to the grieving people," he suggested.
In response, the committee announced the formation of a four-member sub-committee, including Shahida Rahmani, Sher Afzal Marwat, Ali Muhammad Khan and Zeb Jafar, to visit the affected area and submit a report.
On a cultural note, Chairman Hamid Raza commented on the rising influence of social media and how videos showcasing extravagant marriages and lavish displays of wealth are spreading despair in society.
"We cannot control social media. Overseas Pakistanis come home to get married and shower dollars and pounds at their events. These videos are spreading more despair in our society," he remarked. “An 18-20-year-old boy claims he earns Rs200 million but doesn’t explain how he does it -- this is harmful to our youth,” the chairman remarked, lamenting the lack of legal control over such online content.
