ISLAMABAD by SPECIAL COORESPONDENT EHSAN BUKHARI
A human trafficking and fraud ring has allegedly been exposed after a Pakistani female singer, Rizwana, filed a formal complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), accusing a group of individuals of luring her to the United Kingdom under the pretense of organizing musical concerts.
According to Rizwana, the scheme began in January 2025 when she met Arif Nadeem and his wife at their travel agency. She claims that a formal agreement was made for her to perform at a series of musical concerts scheduled between January and June 2025 in London.
Rizwana stated that promotional posters were printed in her name, suggesting that musical shows were being held in the UK. However, upon arrival, she found that no concerts had been organized, no accommodation was arranged, and no flight tickets were provided, forcing her to travel at her own expense. She alleges that the group – including Sahir Kiyani and his wife Huma Amir Kiyani – used forged documents and misused another individual’s name to deceive her.
The singer further claimed that after she raised her voice and began questioning the fraud, members of the alleged group began threatening her, even issuing death threats in an effort to silence her.
Following her complaint, the FIA has launched a formal investigation into the alleged scam involving fraud, impersonation, and human trafficking under the guise of entertainment visas and events.
In response to the allegations, Arif Nadeem denied all wrongdoing when contacted by this reporter. He stated that the agreement with Rizwana was cancelled before she traveled to the UK, claiming her flight from Lahore was cancelled, and thus the deal was terminated. He added that although they had planned to cancel her visa, they did not follow through, and now Rizwana is fabricating allegations out of personal malice.
“This is nothing but a bundle of lies,” Nadeem said, asserting that the claims were baseless and meant to defame him.
The case has raised serious concerns about the misuse of artist and performer visas as a front for illegal migration and human trafficking, prompting calls for stricter regulatory oversight of travel and entertainment arrangements involving overseas events.
