The permanent senatorial committee of the interior has unanimously approved bills increasing penalties for begging and strengthening measures against human smuggling.
The committee, chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem, examined and approved the prevention of the smuggling of the migrant bill, presented by the government.
During the session, the interior secretary, Khurram Agha, underlined the increase in cases of trafficking in human beings, stressing the importance of more strict laws. He said that the proposed legislation includes measures to ensure stronger sentences and more severe sanctions for offenders.
Senator Shahadat Awan supported this decision, declaring that more severe sanctions would prevent suspects from obtaining an easy deposit.
Previously, the maximum sentence for human smuggling was seven years, but under the new bill, it will be extended at ten years.
The committee unanimously approved the bill.
Following this, the Committee also examined and approved an increasing bill for sanctions for people involved in organized begging.
The ministry of Law said that the new legislation targets not only individuals engaging in begging, but also those who facilitate and force others.
Under the revised law:
- Facilitators of begging and individuals forcing others to begging will risk up to 10 years in prison.
- Stricter measures will be applied to brake the networks of organized beggars.
The committee unanimously approved the bill, approaching the law.
Earlier, the FIA confirmed the expulsion of 10 suspects of Saudi Arabia, who had gone to the kingdom on Omra visas but which was begged.
Pakistan fears that these people, who engage in begging abroad, have a negative impact on the experience of legitimate pilgrims going to Saudi Arabia for Omra or Hajj.
Reports suggest that Riyad has raised the problem with Islamabad several times in the past year. In November 2023, the Minister of the Interior Mohin Naqvi assured that a “effective repression” at the national level was underway against the Pakistanis who used Omra or Hajj visas to beg in Saudi Arabia.
