https://arab.news/59uf6
- Hareem Shah uploaded a video on Instagram, saying she took a huge amount from Pakistan to the United Kingdom
- The Tiktoker told Arab News she was 'out of Pakistan' when asked about money laundering allegations against her
KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Wednesday registered a case against a popular TikTok star Hareem Shah under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act after she uploaded a video on social media that showed her with wads of British currency which she claimed to have brought from Pakistan.
Shah, a controversial social media figure, shared the video at 2:45pm on January 11, but deleted it after it went viral and prompted the FIA to take legal action against her.
“Hareem Shah, whose real name is Fizza Hussain, travelled to the United Kingdom via Doha by Qatar Airways from the Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport on January 10, 2022,” Amir Farooqui, FIA’s director for Sindh region, told Arab News. “We have registered a case against her and started investigating the alleged money laundering after watching the confessional video.”
A statement issued by the agency said the FIA had also decided to write to Britain’s National Crime Agency to initiate action against the TikTok star.
“The illegal transfer of money comes under the orbit of money laundering,” the agency’s official handout read, adding that a huge amount of money could be seen in Shah’s video that was posted on social media.
Under Pakistan’s local laws, people traveling abroad are only allowed to carry a limited amount on them.
The TikTok star mocked the current Pakistani administration, saying it had failed to fulfil its economic promises as the country’s national currency was rapidly losing its value.
She also offered other travelers a piece of advice, telling them to be cautious while traveling with substantial amounts of money.
“No one said anything to me and they cannot,” she continued. “I came [to Britain] easily, but Pakistani law mostly catches the poor, so you should all take care.”
Shah removed the video from her social media account while telling a private news channel it was a prank.
She also maintained the money she showed had come from the sale of her sister’s car in London.
“I am out of Pakistan,” the social media star told Arab News in a brief response when asked about money laundering allegations against her.
Shah told the private news channel she was traveling to the United Kingdom on a business visa.
Her visa document seen by Arab News shows that Shah is traveling under the Temporary Work (Creative) Migrant category.