ISLAMABAD – At least 10 Chinese nationals, including a woman, have beenarrested in Pakistan for allegedly luring young Pakistani girls into fakemarriages then forcing them into prostitution in China, the country’spremier probe agency has said.
The Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) arrested eight Chinese nationals,including a woman, on Monday and last week, two Chinese nationals werearrested when a marriage ceremony was being performed in Fasialabad, about150 kms from Lahore.
“On Monday, we have arrested seven Chinese men and a Chinese woman fortheir alleged involvement in trafficking of Pakistani girls to China forthe purpose of prostitution,” FIA Punjab Director Tariq Rustam told PTI.
The FIA swung into action following reports of Chinese nationals beinginvolved in organ trade and forced prostitution of Pakistani girls, mostlyfrom the minority Christian community, after marrying them and taking themback to China.
Rustam said that their leader, indentified as ‘Candice’, was among thosearrested. He has been living near the Lahore airport for the last one year.
“The girls were moved to the rented houses acquired by the Chinese inLahore where they were taught Chinese language before they leaving forChina after completion of their marriage related documents,” he said,adding the girls were forced into prostitution in China. “We are collectingthe data of the girls trafficked to China during the last couple of years.
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Their number may run into hundreds,” he said, adding that we areinterrogating the arrested Chinese nationals and hopefully arrest all thoseinvolved in the crime.
The Government recently ordered the FIA to take action against the gangsinvolved in smuggling of Pakistani girls to China on the pretext ofcontracting marriage.
According to the local media reports, poor Christians girls are lured withmoney and promises of a ‘good life’ by the illegal matchmaking centres tomarry Chinese men who are either visiting or working in Pakistan.
These centres produce fake documents of Chinese men showing them either asChristians or Muslims. Most of the girls reportedly became victims of humantrafficking and forced into prostitution, the report said.
