Heinous crime of human trafficking…Mohsin Saleem Ullah
How safe a place is Pakistan to live? The 2024 US State Department Trafficking in Persons Report reveals a dire situation in Pakistan regarding human trafficking. In 2023 alone, out of over 18,000 cases of human trafficking investigated, only 10 convictions were secured. Alarmingly, for the fifth consecutive year, no substantial actions were taken against government officials implicated in trafficking-related offences. This demonstrates a broader systemic failure to address human trafficking effectively within the country.
Despite collaborations with global partners such as the US Embassy and various NGOs, Pakistan’s domestic efforts to combat human trafficking remain insufficient. The statistics paint a grim picture: thousands are trafficked annually, yet convictions are exceedingly rare. The FIA recently reported the arrest of 109 traffickers in the Gujranwala in a single month, underscoring the vast scale of this human rights violation.
Human trafficking in Pakistan is a complex and pervasive issue with severe consequences. It fundamentally violates the constitutional right to freedom of movement, guaranteed under Article 15 of the Constitution, and undermines the right to live with dignity in a place of one’s choosing. Traffickers are primarily driven by financial gain, and in the era of neoliberalism, trafficking has evolved into a global crime orchestrated by transnational mafias.
Pakistan serves as a source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, occupying a strategic position in this illicit trade. The state’s inability – or unwillingness – to address the issue perpetuates this criminal enterprise. Socioeconomic vulnerabilities such as poverty, gender inequality and illiteracy render many individuals susceptible to exploitation. These factors are manipulated by traffickers to force victims into bonded labour, sex work or illegal migration schemes. Also, corruption within the government and official complicity remain significant obstacles to combatting the menace of human trafficking. The State Department report also notes that the government did not report any investigation, prosecution or conviction of government employees complicit in human trafficking crimes. Numerous traffickers sustain their operations by bribing officials or leveraging gaps in the legal framework to escape accountability. Additionally, these offenders actively utilise social media platforms to advertise their illicit activities and maximise their financial gains.
The lack of widespread public outcry against this crime against humanity is concerning. An estimated 20,000 individuals, 80% of whom are women, are trafficked annually in Pakistan. In 2022, during a court proceeding in Lahore, police disclosed that 40,500 girls had been abducted in Punjab alone. This raises profound questions about the state and society’s apparent indifference to a social evil that impacts Pakistan’s economy, moral fabric and international reputation.
The penalties imposed on convicted traffickers are often inadequate, with many escaping imprisonment and receiving nominal fines. The Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act, 2018, despite amendments, contains legal loopholes that allow for fines instead of imprisonment, significantly weakening its deterrent effect. Additionally, law enforcement agencies lack the specialised training and resources required to dismantle sophisticated, transnational trafficking networks effectively.
Addressing human trafficking in Pakistan requires a more proactive and results-driven approach by the government. This includes strengthening the legal framework by introducing stringent penalties, such as life imprisonment, and ensuring the rigorous enforcement of these laws. Providing specialised training for law enforcement personnel to identify, disrupt and dismantle trafficking networks is essential. Furthermore, the government must establish comprehensive systems for the protection and rehabilitation of trafficking victims.
Traffickers, who often amass significant wealth, are able to evade justice through bribery and influence. If such practices continue unchecked, there will be little deterrence, and the human trafficking crisis in Pakistan will only grow.
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