US authorities also investigating social worker’s involvement in child trafficking, says FIA official

DNA

KARACHI: A local court Thursday granted a two-day physical remand of Sarim Burney to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on charges that the renowned rights activist was involved in human smuggling.

Investigation Officer Chaudhry Bilal produced Burney before Judicial Magistrate Khaleequ Zaman, a day after his arrest on charges of human trafficking. He requested the court to order the social worker’s 14-day physical remand in police custody.

The IO said that Burney’s custody was required to record his statement, obtain the relevant record and arrest his co-accused. He also maintained that there was a risk of evidence being destroyed if the FIA was not given custody.

After hearing the arguments, the magistrate handed over the accused to FIA on a two-day remand with a direction to produce him on completion of the remand as well as a progress report on the case.

Meanwhile, the court rejected Burney’s request to discharge him from the case.

During the hearing of the case today, the social worker’s lawyer requested the court that his client be released as there was no case with regards to the matter.