Karachi: A local court on Thursday remanded Sarim Burni to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for two days on charges of human trafficking.
One day after the investigating officer Chaudhry Bilal was arrested in connection with human trafficking, Burni was produced before Magistrate Khaliq Zaman. He asked the court to sentence the social worker to 14 days of physical detention in police custody.
The IO said he had to record Burney’s arrest statement, obtain relevant transcripts and arrest his accomplices. The FIA also stated that there is a risk of evidence being destroyed if unchecked.
After hearing the arguments, the judge remanded the accused to the FIA on two-day remand and reported on the progress of the case.
Meanwhile, the court denied Burney’s motion to dismiss him.
At today’s hearing, the social worker’s lawyer told the court that there was no case in the matter.
His lawyer said Burney’s community service was exceptional and he was arrested on false and baseless charges.
“Sarim has received an award for social service. He can not imagine doing anything wrong,” said his lawyer.
Burney, who runs the non-profit organization Sarim Burney Welfare Trust International, was arrested after landing at Jinnah International Airport in Karachi following a visit to the US.
According to the FIA, the social worker was arrested in connection with human trafficking and smuggling and child trafficking after the American authorities filed a complaint against him.
According to the FIA, he is accused of selling and adopting more than 25 children illegally to the United States. The agency was also accused of fraud and falsification of documents.
As a result, allegations of child trafficking into the United States led to an investigation against the social worker.
The FIA investigating officer ordered the court to physically remand Burney for further investigation into the matter.
Barney was represented by lawyer Syed Asif Ali in court. She asked the social worker to spend some time in court for a team of counselors to come to court, the court allowed them 15 minutes and adjourned the case for some time.
“Initially there was a report that Sarim Burni was brought to the Malir court. Our legal team went there,” said the lawyer, looking for some time for the court.
Earlier this morning, the FIA said the social worker had pleaded “guilty” in the human trafficking case against him after his arrest.
“Sarim Burney was interrogated twice. He admitted that he made a mistake in his first statement after his arrest.”
The FIA also announced that the social worker was under surveillance by US authorities during his last visit. An FIA official told Geo News that US authorities are also investigating child trafficking by social workers.
The FIA confirmed the development after registering a case against Burne in the Human Trafficking Cell. “More cases of child trafficking and money laundering will be registered against Sarim Burney,” the official said.
On the other hand, sources told Geo News that the records of the children sent to the US were given to the FIA authorities by the Embassy.
A social worker is accused of smuggling her newborn daughter, Haya, into the United States.
“More than 15 of those sent to the United States are girls,” agency officials said.
Officials said Burney bought the boy from his parents for $1 million and shipped him to the United States. “Many people helped Sarim Burney buy a girl”.
FIA officials recorded the words of the boy’s parents.
Burney is accused of trafficking at least 20 newborns a year for adoption by parents in the United States.
Meanwhile, sources said Bernie’s wife, Aaliyah, is also benefiting from the trust document.
Burney’s wife may also be named after a document verified by the Sindh government, he said.
