The Sindh government has decided to take over the Sarim Burney Trust following allegations of child trafficking. The decision comes in response to the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) request for intervention due to the trust’s alleged involvement in smuggling children to the United States and other countries.
Sindh Government to Take Over Sarim Burney Trust
The move to place the Sarim Burney Trust under the Sindh government’s control aims to ensure proper oversight and transparency amid serious accusations. On June 6, Sarim Burney, a prominent philanthropist and human rights activist, was apprehended by the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle at Karachi airport upon his return from the US. The Sindh Department of Social Welfare will now manage the trust’s operations, particularly its orphanage in Karachi. The director general of the Social Welfare Department has issued an official order to implement this decision, ensuring the trust’s activities align with legal and ethical standards.
Ongoing Investigation
The legal proceedings related to the case are ongoing. On July 12, the court of Judicial Magistrate Yusra Ashfaq heard the case involving allegations of child smuggling and document tampering. Sarim Burney participated in the court hearing via video link. The FIA has been granted permission to record the statements of trustees, including Advocate Ejaz Khattak and Advocate Qadir Hussain. Moreover, the court approved the FIA’s request for a search warrant for the trust’s premises and the recording of statements from the parents of the smuggled children under Section 164. The court emphasized that any evidence gathered should be presented promptly, the hearing has been adjourned until July 25.
Sarim Burney, who faces charges of child trafficking and document forgery, was later transferred to a hospital from court lockup due to health concerns.
Read more: FIA Arrests Human Rights Activist Sarim Burney
