Issuance of Pakistani passports to aliens unearthed

KARACHI:

Federal investigators have unearthed a scam involving the illegal issuance of Pakistani passports to Afghan citizens in exchange for money at various passport offices. The passport offices at Karachi’s Saddar, Awami Centre, Malir, and Thatta were allegedly involved in the scam, highly credible sources told The Express Tribune.

The Saddar passport office alone allegedly issued around 1,000 passports to foreigners, many of which were processed through Saudi Arabian missions.

Between 2010 and 2012, around 11,000 passports were reportedly issued dubiously. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), aided by the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA), is investigating to identify those responsible.

Sources also revealed that forged passports were issued in lieu of lost documents, and subsequently used by unauthorised people abroad.

The investigations have already led to the arrest of the superintendent and a former officer from the Karachi passport office by FIA and the Counter-Terrorism Wing (CTW).