Bribery allegations shake Afghan e-visa probe

A twist has emerged in the investigation of a scandal involving the illegal issuance of e-visas to Afghan nationals.

Two officials from the FIA's Anti-Human Smuggling Cell, including a sub-inspector, have been found involved in bribery. The FIA Director General, Raja Riffat Mukhtar, took immediate action by arresting the accused and forming a Joint Investigation Team (JIT).

According to sources, the FIA had earlier uncovered a network allegedly involving officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and PID, who were facilitating the illegal issuance of e-visas to Afghan nationals through fake sponsorships.

Six suspects, including PID Information Assistant Nader Raheem and several Afghan nationals, were already under arrest.

During the investigation, the FIA DG received credible information suggesting that some officials were colluding with suspects and demanding bribes in exchange for preferential treatment. An inquiry was launched under the supervision of Islamabad Zone Director Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari.

Sub-Inspector Waseem Ahmed and Constable Aqib Mehmood were arrested by FIA's Anti-Corruption Circle for allegedly demanding Rs2 million in bribes from suspect Zubair during his physical remand, promising to ease his conditions and transfer him to judicial custody. The FIA has formed a four-member JIT led by Assistant Director Nauman Khalil, including Sub-Inspectors Shams Khan, Shehryar, and Constable Mehdi, to investigate further. Authorities confirmed that six suspects - Abdul Aziz, Ahmed Sakhi, Atif Ahmed, Nader Raheem Abbasi (PID official), Abrar Ahmed, and Zubair Ahmed - have been arrested in the e-visa case.