{"id":18281,"date":"2023-10-26T21:01:16","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T21:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/fia-to-blacklist-passports-of-professional-beggars\/"},"modified":"2023-10-26T21:01:16","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T21:01:16","slug":"fia-to-blacklist-passports-of-professional-beggars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/fia-to-blacklist-passports-of-professional-beggars\/","title":{"rendered":"FIA to blacklist passports of \u2018professional beggars\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"
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ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday decided to blacklist the passports of professional beggars as crackdown against alleged beggars travelling abroad continues, ARY News reported.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a statement, FIA\u2019s Director-General (DG) Mohsin Butt said that the agency has issued a special directive to all airports to conduct thorough screenings of all passengers travelling abroad.<\/p>\n

DG FIA further said that almost 74 passengers from airports across the country were offloaded and transferred to the agency\u2019s Anti-Human Trafficking Circles for further investigation.<\/p>\n

He further said that complete screening and profiling of Umrah pilgrims were being ensured. \u201cThe Umrah pilgrims will only be allowed to go based on travel history analysis report,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

\u201cStrict checks of passengers\u2019 belongings are being carried out at airports in collaboration with other law enforcement agencies,\u201d Butt said.<\/p>\n

The official also said that the passports of beggars involved in seeking alms in foreign countries will now be blacklisted, he added.<\/p>\n

The agency has launched a crackdown against alleged beggars travelling abroad.<\/p>\n

Read More: 90pc beggars arrested abroad are Pakistanis, Senate body told<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Earlier in October, FIA offloaded 24 alleged beggars<\/a> in the disguise of Umrah pilgrims from Saudi Arabia-bound flight at Multan airport. The group, consisting of men and women, was initially travelling on Umrah visas.<\/p>\n

The FIA officials during the immigration process questioned the passengers who confessed that they were going to visit the KSA to seek alms.<\/p>\n

The beggars had an agreement that they would have to give half of their earnings to the travel agents involved in their arrangements.<\/p>\n

The crackdown was initiated after a report presented to the upper house of parliament stated that 90% of professional beggars arrested in the Middle East are of Pakistani origin.<\/p>\n

Most of the pickpockets arrested from religious sites, including the revered Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia, are also Pakistanis.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n