Karachi :(Special Correspondent) Despite the passage of seven months, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has failed to arrest the fugitives in the high-profile Sarim Burney child trafficking case to the United States.
Sources disclosed to the Karachi Papers correspondent that with the connivence and pressure of influential figure the FIA is not only intentionally avoiding to arrest the rest of the accused but also trying to prolong the case, so that it might eventually be dismissed on the grounds of insufficient evidence.
It should be noted that on the complaint of US Officials, FIA had arrested Sarim Burney, head of the Sarim Burney Trust and the main accused in the child trafficking case upon his arrival at the Jinnah International Airport, Karachi on June 5,2024.
Among those still at large in the case are Basalat Khan, the legal advisor of Sarim Burney Trust, Humaira Naz, in charge shelter home of trust and Madiha Islam, who was running a clinic in Surjani Town area and in the guise of clinic she was engaged in purchasing children from underprivileged parents. She has also provided young girl to Sarim Burney Trust.
Investigations revealed that the minor girls 4-year-old Jannat and 6-year-old Fatima, daughters of Wasif Shabeer were smuggled to the United States under false identities, with Jannat and Fatima being given the names Zehra and Sara.
Further investigation uncovered that the children were pretend as orphans, while children’s father Shabeer is alive, who had handed them over to the Sarim Burney Trust following a separation from his wife, seeking better care for them. Wasif Shabeer also submitted affidavit with FIA and concern Court. However, Sarim Burney sold out siblings to American couple against $6000.
The FIA investigation also uncovered another case of trafficking orchestrated by Sarim Burney Trust. According to the FIA Basalat Khan, the legal advisor of Sarim Burney Trust was actively involved in the trafficking plan. He has sent an e-mail to US Embassy, that a female child, Muntaha, later revealed to be Haya, is being handed over to Ayaz Khan with the consent of child’s mother.
It was further revealed during the investigation that Muntaha, the real name Haya was purchased by accused Madiha Islam, who was operating a clinic in Surjani Town. Accused Madiha bought the child against Rs.0.6 million from the child’s biological mother, Afsheen. Madiha paid Rs.0.3 million of the total amount, and the child was subsequently transferred to the Sarim Burney Trust as part of the trafficking scheme.
Sarim Burney, the head of trust used to receive $3000 each child trafficked through his trust and the remaining amount distributed other accomplices, while the accused Basalat Khan used to look after the court cases and secure the court orders by submitting fraudulent documents.
The FIA probe suggests that Humaira Naz, the shelter home head, signed all the certificates and accused Madiha used to buy girls by taking advantage of the compulsion of people and then provided them to Sarim Barni Trust.
Despite conducting raids to arrest the absconding suspects, the FIA has yet to apprehend the accused, raising further questions about the agency’s handling of the case.
