Pakistan govt blocks passports of 4,000 beggars arrested in Saudi Arabia

The federal government has blocked the passports of 4,000 Pakistanis who have been arrested in Saudi Arabia for begging.  

60% of the inmates were from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis has confirmed.

The detained Pakistanis have had their passports blocked for seven years.

The authorities are reportedly drafting emergency travel documents to repatriate the arrested Pakistanis.

The imprisoned Pakistanis will shortly be expelled from Saudi Arabia, local media reported on Monday. Legal action will be taken against these people upon their arrival.

Many Pakistanis travel overseas, particularly to Saudi Arabia, posing as pilgrims doing the Hajj and Umra, just to beg for money.

Earlier, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested eight suspected beggars, heading to Saudi Arabia, at Multan airport.

During the immigration process, the FIA discovered that Javed was helping the baggers leave for Rs1,85,000.

Moreover, the investigating agency discovered that the beggars were expected to give the agents half of their bagging money.