Parliament has sounded the alarm over shocking revelations of Pakistani citizens being trafficked, tortured, and allegedly sold for their organs in Cambodia.
During a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Rights, lawmakers expressed outrage at the Ministry of Interior after learning that nearly 18,000 Pakistanis had travelled to Cambodia within a year.
Committee Chairman Agha Rafiullah accused the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of negligence and even facilitation, questioning why officials failed to scrutinize suspicious travel under the guise of tourism. He pointed out that Cambodia offers no major tourism or business attractions, yet thousands of Pakistanis were allowed to leave unchecked.
Lawmakers cited disturbing reports that citizens are being kidnapped, tortured with electric shocks, extorted for money, and trafficked across the region. In some cases, criminal groups reportedly possess medical expertise to extract organs from victims for illegal sale.
Rafiullah revealed that many of the victims were lured through fraudulent recruitment agents, only to be held hostage later. “We raised the issue and rescued some people, but the numbers are staggering. Within a year, thousands are leaving for a country that has nothing to offer,” he said.
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The committee criticized the vacant post of director general at the Bureau of Immigration, questioning whether the acting chief has the authority to prevent trafficking on such a scale.
Committee member Mehreen Bhutto highlighted that even educated professionals are desperate to leave Pakistan due to limited opportunities at home. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis stressed that despite such tragedies, expatriates remain vital to the economy, sending $38 billion in remittances during 2024-25.
Earlier this year, the Special Parliamentary Committee on Anti-Human Trafficking and Human Smuggling held its inaugural meeting in Punjab Assembly, highlighting the urgency of tackling trafficking in persons (TIP) and smuggling of migrants (SOM).
Chaired by MPA Uzma Kardar, the session had stressed the devastating impact of cross-border smuggling and internal exploitation, including bonded labor and forced sex work.
The committee directed establishment of anti-trafficking police cells in every district by February 2025 and revitalization of local committees for accountability.
