FIA checkposts in KP, Balochistan get police station status to curb human smuggling

• Seven FIA stations established in Balochistan, two in KP.
• Two FIA stations established in violence-hit Kurram.
• Development comes after PM orders against human smugglers.

In an important move to curb human smuggling and maintain law and order, nine checkposts of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Thursday were given a status of police station in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, according to an notification obtained by Geo News.

According to the new order issued by the Ministry of Interior, seven checkposts in Balochistan and two in KP were granted status of the police stations.

As many as two FIA stations named Gavi and Inzarkai, were established in tribal Kurram Agency.

Meanwhile, Charban, Noor Wahab, Brabacha and Rajay stations were established in Balochistan's Chagai district, alongside Ghazni and Qamar Din Karez stations in Zhob district.

One more FIA station, Paragkoh/Chedgi, was established in Balochistan's Panjgur district.

This development came days after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the federal government's agencies, the FIA and the Intelligence Bureau (IB), to further intensify operations against human traffickers last month.

The premier, during a meeting with the authorities and officials of the FIA and IB in the presence of ministers and interior secretary, expressed the hope that with the relentless and worthy efforts undertaken by these agencies, the obnoxious practice of human trafficking would end forever.

PM Shehbaz had appreciated the authorities and officials of the agencies for nabbing the ringleader of a notorious gang involved in human trafficking.

He noted with appreciation the arrest of Usman Jajja involved in numerous human trafficking cases, saying: "The black business of human trafficking has earned bad name for Pakistan while a number of nationals lost their lives in boats capsized incidents near Italy and Morrocco which also created huge embarrassment for the country abroad."

He also urged the authorities and officers to gird up their loins and raise the country's name by carrying out their official responsibilities with dedication.

The Jajja gang leader, Usman, is one of the main characters responsible for the deaths of Pakistanis in the Greece boat accident last year.