“We are deeply grateful for the decisive action by the Iranian government and police against the traffickers, and have led to the release of 10 Pakistani citizens,” Muhammad Mudasir Tipu said in a message released on Monday, according to Press TV.
“All these individuals (liberated Pakistani citizens) are healthy and under the protection of the embassy. We have made the necessary arrangements to return to Pakistan,” he added.
He called on citizens of his country to condemn traffickers and their silly practices, warning them not to fall into the false promises of smugglers.
He praised the cooperation of Iranian authorities and emphasized the need to strengthen Iran-Pakistan cooperation and combat human trafficking.
“Iranian police have arrested criminal gangs who were involved in this heinous practice,” he further said.
In recent years, Iranian border forces have detained many Pakistani citizens as illegal immigrants and handed over to Pakistani border authorities at the intersection of the Mirjabe border.
Pakistani citizens often enter Iran illegally in attempts to use Iran as a transport route to reach Europe or Persian Gulf states in search of work.
In early March last year, the Pakistani Embassy in Tehran announced in a statement that in cooperation with the Iranian government and police, rescue of four Pakistanis from human traffickers.
MNA