|||MAG||| June 27 - July 03 , 2009

The mind refuses to identify the masquerade that conceals the mucky sins of the double-dealers, who under false pretense, swindle innocent individuals. And so fallen prey to such a sham were the families from Karachi, who had embarked upon a journey to Mecca to perform Umrah only to be arrested at the airport when four kilograms of heroin was recovered from their possession, concealed in their shoes. Fingers are being pointed at the family who sent them to the pilgrimage through a travel agency and gave them slippers just before they were leaving. Needless to say, the perpetrators have fled leaving the fate of these innocent individuals in limbo.

Death sentence is given to drug smugglers in the Arabian peninsula. They are beheaded without further ado ensuring prompt enforcement of the law. The same nightmare must be now haunting these seven people, who had left their homes to perform Umrah, oblivious to the fate that awaited them. Mohammad Arif Chohan, his wife Shumaila Arif, residents of Korangi area; Mohammad Anis, his wife Rabia Anis and his mother Zehra Mosani, residents of Azizabad area; and Iftikharul Haq and his wife Qamar-un-Nisa were arrested at the Jeddah airport, as their slippers had heroin stuffed in them. Each person was given a pair by the man who arranged their journey through a renowned travel agency. The travel agency refutes any link with the criminals.
After Raees Ahmed, the father of the detained Shumaila did not receive confirmation of the couple's arrival in Mecca, he became worried. He contacted friends and relatives in the Kingdom but met with no success. In desperation, he and the relatives of the others that were missing met contacted Ansar Burney, who then wrote a letter to the Pakistani mission requesting the missing people’s whereabouts.
On receiving the request, the mission wrote a letter on 12th June, to the concerned authorities in the Kingdom, requesting information about the missing group and thereby came to know that they had been arrested.
Fully aware of the fact that his daughter and son-in-law were innocent, he lodged a complaint with the Awami Colony police accusing Sarwat Hussain and his wife Shaifa Khan of the crime.
Before the couple was leaving for Umrah, they, along with the others were called by Sarwat Hussain, his wife Shaifa Khan and son Faraz Hussain, who gave them the slippers and told them to pray for them. Sarwat Hussain and his wife have fled whereas their son has been arrested who claims that he has no contact with his parents. During the search of their house, the police recovered 200 grams of heroin and other documents and passports of various persons.
No matter how much they refute, the fact remains that this whole episode has tarnished the name of the agency that prepared the itinerary. They claim to have an immaculate record and have received a certificate of excellence from the Saudi government. Their manager has been vehement in his refusal and he gave a statement which said that Sarwat Hussain performed Umrah in 2008 through the agency and the family that has been detained in Saudi Arabia also received visa, air ticket and other facilities from them through Hussain. But none of the things carrying the drug were given to the travellers by the agency. If Hussain has done so, he is solely responsible for the misdemeanor. But as it is said, the damage has already been done and no matter how much they deny, their business will suffer.
The suffering of the families of those wrongly accused know no bounds. They had never imagined that their own flesh and blood that they bid adieu to, to perform the religious obligation would face such a grave predicament before even stepping on the holy land. The impending fear of doom for their loved ones sends shudders down their spine. The only light at the end of the dark and gloomy tunnel seems to be the arrest of the real perpetrators and their being handed over to the Saudi government. They are still at large and the police are searching for them.The Saudis rule with an iron fist and unlike in Pakistan, laws are not bent. For them, these innocent people are the criminals for it is in their possession that the drugs were found - unless, of course, the government of Pakistan catches the real culprits and hand them over and help these unfortunate families. The Pakistani mission in the Kingdom has been trying to gain consular access to them, and expect to receive it soon. By the time this article is printed, they might be granted the access. But this will only be a minor consolation.
The Saudi authorities have been lenient enough to indicate that those arrested could be released if the government of Pakistan will hand over the real culprits. Hence, the real help would be for the government to get its crime busting wheels turning and let justice prevail for a change.
With the image of Pakistan thoroughly blemished in the international community due to terrorism, this incident proved to be yet another nail in the coffin. As it is, pride doesn't run high when one goes for an international trip for a green passport raises many an eyebrow. Preconceived notions about the holder's being a fundamentalist, terrorist or simply a corrupt individual seem to create an aura of indifference and distrust. But people in general seem to be working for their own vested interests for they know that if they will commit a crime within the boundaries of the state, they can go scot-free by employing underhand means and if they need to go beyond the borders, they can always ensnare innocent individuals for then there shall be no one to put them to task. I hope this time they are proven wrong; I hope justice finally prevails, for if it does not, then the death of these seven individuals and the suffering of their families will haunt our authorities and those who have so ingeniously absconded.