Parliament has raised alarm over horrific revelations of atrocities against Pakistani citizens in Cambodia, where victims are allegedly being held hostage, tortured, extorted, and even sold for their organs.
Shocking revelations in parliamentary committee
The National Assembly Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Rights expressed anger at the Ministry of Interior after learning that 18,000 Pakistanis travelled to Cambodia within a year.
Committee Chairman Agha Rafiullah accused the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of facilitating these departures and questioned why officials fail to scrutinize people traveling on fresh passports under the pretext of tourism.
Reports of hostage-taking and organ sales
Lawmakers cited widespread complaints that Pakistanis in Cambodia, bordering Thailand and Vietnam, are being kidnapped, electrocuted, extorted, and trafficked. In many cases, criminals reportedly have the expertise to remove body parts for illegal sale.
Chairman Agha Rafiullah said many victims were lured to Cambodia through fraudulent agents and later sold for their organs. He stressed that Cambodia offers no major tourism or business attractions, yet thousands continue to travel there under suspicious circumstances.
Tough questions for FIA, immigration bureau
The committee strongly criticized the FIA and raised concerns about the vacant position of director general (DG) of the Bureau of Immigration.
Rafiullah questioned: “If the Ministry of Foreign Affairs managed to rescue 700 people, how did another 18,000 Pakistanis go to Cambodia in just one year? Does the acting DG have all the powers needed to stop this trafficking?”
He added that complaints had been piling up for months. “We raised the issue and recovered some people, but the numbers are alarming. Within a year, thousands are leaving for a country that has nothing to offer,” he said.
Educated professionals seeking to leave Pakistan
Committee member Mehreen Bhutto pointed out that even educated professionals are desperate to move abroad due to lack of opportunities at home.
Meanwhile, officials from the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis highlighted the economic importance of expatriates, revealing that in 2024-25, Pakistanis sent home $38 billion in remittances.
