A Pakistani national named Abdul Manan is reportedly being tortured at a scam center in Myawaddy Township, Karen State, prompting his family to seek assistance for his rescue. Abdul Manan hails from Tehjian village in Sharda Township, Neelum District, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. He comes from a low-income family and is the only son among seven siblings. His mother is seriously ill, and his father has limited earning capacity due to his age.
Abdul Manan left for Thailand in December 2024 in search of better employment opportunities and arrived in Mae Sot. While he maintained contact with his family for about a month after reaching Thailand, communication suddenly ceased thereafter. Currently, the family has been unable to contact him for nearly five months. According to family members who received information through Pakistani contacts, Abdul Manan is being held at a scam center where he is subjected to torture, including electric shocks, for not performing well in their fraudulent operations.
His sister has made an emotional appeal, explaining their family’s difficult situation. She emphasized that Abdul Manan is their only brother among sisters, with their father unable to work much and their mother in poor health. The family is deeply concerned about his well-being and has requested assistance from anyone who can help secure his safe return to Pakistan. The scam operations in the Myawaddy area continue to function actively under the protection of the Karen Border Guard Force (BGF), led by Colonel Saw Chit Thu, who operates under the military council, along with other armed groups.
These scam centers along the Thai-Myanmar border have been responsible for numerous cases of exploitation and abuse of foreign nationals. The situation highlights the ongoing issues of human trafficking and forced labor in the region, particularly in areas where the military council’s affiliated groups maintain control. The family’s plea for help underscores the desperate situation of many foreign nationals who become trapped in these criminal operations, often lured by false promises of legitimate employment opportunities. The continued operation of these scam centers, despite their well-documented history of human rights abuses, remains a significant concern for both local and international communities.
