Over 800 victimized by agent mafia in Saudi Arabia

KARACHI: Over 800 Pakistanis, went to perform Umrah in Saudi Arabia, have been betrayed by Travel Agent Mafia working in Pakistan, as the money of their return tickets have been refunded here in Pakistan, leaving them in Lurch in Saudi Arabia.Over 800 Pakistanis went Saudi Arab through separate airlines belonging to various cities who are unable to get back to country due to lack of their return tickets while travel agents in Jeddah have denied them of any support or help to avert this malfunction.According to sources, the corrupt travel agents in Pakistan have refunded the money of the return tickets of over 800 Pakistanis currently staying in Jeddah for Umrah and their subagents have advised the Saudi authorities to hand them over to Saudi Security Agencies.Reports have also reached here regarding the involvement of country managers of some airlines in all this corruption while those victimized told Geo news that they cannot afford to buy return tickets again.Complaints have been registered with Saudi Ministry for Hajj and the investigations are underway in this connection, sources said adding that the money for their return tickets will be deducted from their banks in Pakistan which they had deposited as guaranteed money for Umarh travel.