In its latest report on human trafficking, the National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) makes the shocking disclosure that during the last year more than 80,000 Pakistanis were deported from various countries, nearly half of them from Saudi Arabia (which is easy to access on the pretext of Umra performance). There are many tragic tales of people paying large sums of money to people smugglers by taking loans or selling whatever little their families owned to pursue their dreams of a better life in a foreign land, that get soured along the way. Many are caught and imprisoned to be sent back home. Also, there have been several incidents of illegal immigrants dying at sea or getting shot en route to Europe. Others headed to Germany and the UK remained stuck in Greece before being turned back. The worst sufferers in this sordid affair are young women, who fall victim to modern slavery. They are sent to the Gulf States lured by prospects of working in beauty salons, but end up working as prostitutes. They cannot return home for fear of being ostracized by family and society, and also because of threats or actual use of violence.
That so many people were deported just last year shows the relevant law enforcement agencies are not doing their jobs well. It would not be surprising if this nefarious activity has gone on with the connivance of unscrupulous elements within the police and the FIA. The author of the present report, however, says the FIA cannot curb people smuggling as it has only 4,500 employees.