Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) in the country have arrested more than 6,835 persons allegedly involved in human trafficking during the last four years. As per data, 1,642 smugglers or traffickers were arrested in 2008, 1,775 in 2009, 1,779 in 2010 and 1,639 were apprehended during 2011.
In addition, 1,842 Proclaimed Offenders (POs) were also nabbed during the period with 376 arrests in 2008, 441 in 2009, 522 in 2010 and 503 POs in 2011. An official source on Friday said 507 Court Absconders (COs) were also arrested during the last four years with year-wise details of 77 in 2008, 54 in 2009, 200 in 2010 and 176 in 2011.
He said thanks to steps taken by Ministry of Interior and introduction of different methods that Pakistan got upgraded from Tier-II Watch List to Tier-II in Trafficking in Persons Report published by US State Department and maintained the same status during 2011 whereby 188 countries all around the world were categorised. This report has direct impact on US and UN financial aid.
He said the Agency is giving priority to control the illegal human trafficking in the country and in this regard it has successfully launched Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) at Islamabad and Peshawar airports. The other measures are installation of Edison System at major airports through Australian High Commission, creation of Immigration Intelligence Unit (IIU) in collaboration with UK, creation of Transnational Crime Unit (TCU) with collaboration of Australia.
He said all these measures have helped drastic reduction in number of Deportees on Fake Documents (DFDs). The official said traffic handled at airports during the last four years was 34.5 million, of which 7.8 million in 2008, 8.2 million in 2009, 8.7 million in 2010 and 9.8 million traffic was handled during 2011.
During the period, 2,114 persons were Off-loaded on Fake Documents (OFDs) with details including 572 in 2008, 669 in 2009, 504 in 2010 and 369 in 2011 while the number of Deportees on Fake Documents (DFDs-A Category) was 56 in 2008, 31 in 2009, 37 in 2010 and 15 in 2011. The number of Deportees on Fake Documents during the period in Category B was 52 in 2008, 43 in 2009, 42 in 2010 and 20 in 2011.
Giving further details, the official said 15,213 persons were convicted with details including 4,641 persons in 2008, 4,396 in 2009, 3,115 in 2010 and 2,861 persons were convicted during 2011. He said Human Trafficking Information System (HUTIS) is very much beneficial since its establishment at main Anti Human Trafficking Circles (AHTCs) for entering detail of Human Traffickers. As per information provided by the HUTIS at FIA, Headquarters, 1,793 Human Traffickers have been included with details. Further more, he said, Zonal Offices are also being asked to update the system and enter detail of all the agents/human traffickers.