Sarim Burney admits to wrongdoing in human trafficking case

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has said that social worker Sarim Barney has admitted to making a mistake in his initial statement in a human trafficking case.

His wife Aliya may also be investigated in the case in the coming days.

An FIR has been registered against the social activist running a Welfare Trust in Karachi by the Human Trafficking Cell of FIA on charges of trafficking of children from Pakistan to America.

The present charge includes the smuggling of a newborn girl named Haya to America. The girl was allegedly bought from her parents for 1 million rupees. Sarim Burney and his acquaintances assisted in the transfer.

The girl’s parents are poor, and their statement has been recorded by FIA.

Geo’s Afzal Nadeem Dogar reports that more than 15 girls, along with other children, have been smuggled this way.

American crime agencies are also investigating Sarim Burney. His records of the children he transferred to America have been provided to the FIA officials from the embassy.

FIA officials state that Sarim Burney’s wife is also a beneficiary in the documents of the trust. After verification by the Sindh government, Alia Sarim Burney will also be named in the case.

More cases of child trafficking and money laundering will be registered against Sarim Burney, FIA told Geo.

Burney is accused of trafficking more than 25 children to the US and illegally getting them adopted in the country, as per FIA. He has also been accused of fraud and falsification of documents, said the agency.

Sarim was placed under surveillance by US authorities during his recent visit to the US and was questioned twice.

Earlier today, the FIA said that the social worker admitted “wrongdoing” in the human trafficking case against him in the wake of his arrest. “Sarim Burney was interrogated twice. He admitted making a mistake in the initial statement following his arrest,” said the officials.

He appeared before the court today(Wednesday), where he candidly told reporters that he would emerge from this. However, the investigation officer requested the court to order Burney’s physical remand for investigation regarding the matter.