Pakistan police arrest four Afghans on charges of human trafficking

Pakistan police have arrested four Afghan nationals on charges of human trafficking involving 10 children who were smuggled into the country from Badakshan province about two months ago. 

Last week the Peshawar High Court ordered police to carry out a full investigation into the circumstances around the children who had been smuggled into the country and enrolled in a madrassa in Akora Khattak town in Nowshera.

According to Pakistan media, police said the children had been smuggled into Pakistan about two and a half months ago. 

After last week’s court case, the children were placed in the custody of the Afghan consulate in Peshawar who was ordered to reunite them with their parents. 

During the court appearance last week, the children — all of whom are aged 10 or under — said they were in the country to get religious education.

The bench was told that the children could not speak Pashto or Urdu and a translator was brought in.

The translator told the court that “it seemed as if the children have been brainwashed. They answer each question together.”

The chief justice asked authorities how the children were smuggled into the country without agencies being alerted.

“Children were brought here from Afghanistan and no one knows about this. What are the agencies doing?” Chief Justice Seth asked.

The court also ordered police to arrest staff at the madrassa and to find out if there were other similar situations involving Afghan children.