Pakistan agency to grill minister for human trafficking

Islamabad, May 30 (UNI) Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) will question a minister after preliminary inquiries into the information provided by eight embassies in Islamabad indicated his involvement in human trafficking.

Daily Times quoted Interior Ministry sources as saying that State Minister for Minorities Affairs Mushtaq Victor denied any wrong doing.

''I know that the FIA is investigating this case. I don't know what they have found but I am ready to face their questions. I have nothing to be worried about ... I want the real culprits sorted out,'' he said.

Interior Secretary Syed Kamal Shah had directed the FIA to question the state minister. ''The FIA will move forward on the basis of his statement,'' sources said, adding that this was the first time that a serving minister would be questioned in such a crime.

The Special Investigation Unit of the FIA started formal investigations after its director general received a formal complaint about the minister from the Norwegian embassy in August 2006.

The allegations appear to revolve around the letters written by the minister recommending people for visas.

''I am a very simple man. I never take care of my documents.

It is quite possible that I could have made some mistakes unintentionally. But let me tell you quite clearly, I am a clean man,'' Mr Victor said.

He had discussed the matter with Interior Minister Aftab Sherpao, he further added.

UNI