KARACHI, Jan. 24 (IslamOnline) - The American Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided at least two flights carrying Muslim pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage or Hajj from Karachi International Airport.
The FBI claimed the raids were in search of Al-Qaeda and Taliban members, who might allegedly flee to Saudi Arabia taking cover of pilgrims, aviation sources in Karachi told IslamOnline.
The raids were conducted by the joint teams of FBI and Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Authority (FIA), sources added.
The first raid was conducted on a Saudi Airline Hajj flight SV-715 at 8:55 A.M. The second was on a Pakistan International Airline’s Hajj flight PK-113 which was raided at 11:15 A.M, sources said. Both flights were bound to Jeddah.
Sources said that three FBI agents along with other FIA officials, led by Deputy Director Immigration, Zulifkar Ali Shah, had conducted the raids.
The FBI agents searched several passengers and checked their documents through sophisticated scanners. None of them was arrested, however.
Deputy Director FIA, Zulifkar Ali Shah, was not available to comment.
According to witnesses, the sudden raids created panic among the passengers, who protested over the “ humiliating attitude” of the FBI agents.
However, the Pakistani FIA officials threatened the passengers to cooperate with the FBI or otherwise face being off-loaded, sources said.
This is the first time -- since the start of this year’s Hajj operation on January 17 – that the FBI has raided a Hajj flight.
Intelligence sources told IslamOnline that the FBI feared that some top Al-Qaeda and Taliban members might try to flee to Saudi Arabia taking advantage of alleged mismanagement in the issuance of Hajj visas and flight schedule.
